In vitro activity of fluorescent dyes against asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2012 Nov;56(11):5982-5. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00709-12. Epub 2012 Jul 30.

Abstract

Many successful antimicrobial drugs originate from synthetic dyes. This paper reports the in vitro activity of 14 fluorescent dyes against Plasmodium falciparum. Five of these dyes (Hoechst 33342, MitoRed, DiOC(6), SYTO 9, and rhodamine B) show activity at a low nanomolar concentration against two P. falciparum strains in the histidine-rich protein 2 drug sensitivity assay, while toxicity in HeLa cells is low. These dyes may be a starting point for developing new drugs against P. falciparum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, Protozoan / metabolism
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Carbocyanines / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance / drug effects
  • Fluorescent Dyes / pharmacology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Organic Chemicals / pharmacology*
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development
  • Protozoan Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Rhodamines / pharmacology*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Antimalarials
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Carbocyanines
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • HRP-2 antigen, Plasmodium falciparum
  • MitoTracker Red 580
  • Organic Chemicals
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Rhodamines
  • SYTO 9
  • 3,3'-dihexyl-2,2'-oxacarbocyanine
  • rhodamine B
  • bisbenzimide ethoxide trihydrochloride