Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum Malaria

Annu Rev Microbiol. 2020 Sep 8:74:431-454. doi: 10.1146/annurev-micro-020518-115546.

Abstract

Understanding and controlling the spread of antimalarial resistance, particularly to artemisinin and its partner drugs, is a top priority. Plasmodium falciparum parasites resistant to chloroquine, amodiaquine, or piperaquine harbor mutations in the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT), a transporter resident on the digestive vacuole membrane that in its variant forms can transport these weak-base 4-aminoquinoline drugs out of this acidic organelle, thus preventing these drugs from binding heme and inhibiting its detoxification. The structure of PfCRT, solved by cryogenic electron microscopy, shows mutations surrounding an electronegative central drug-binding cavity where they presumably interact with drugs and natural substrates to control transport. P. falciparum susceptibility to heme-binding antimalarials is also modulated by overexpression or mutations in the digestive vacuole membrane-bound ABC transporter PfMDR1 (P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 transporter). Artemisinin resistance is primarily mediated by mutations in P. falciparum Kelch13 protein (K13), a protein involved in multiple intracellular processes including endocytosis of hemoglobin, which is required for parasite growth and artemisinin activation. Combating drug-resistant malaria urgently requires the development of new antimalarial drugs with novel modes of action.

Keywords: antimalarial drug resistance; artemisinin-based combination therapy; endocytosis; hemoglobin; k13; pfcrt; piperaquine; transport.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins / pharmacology
  • Artemisinins / therapeutic use
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology
  • Chloroquine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / genetics*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics*
  • Quinolines / pharmacology
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • PfCRT protein, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Quinolines
  • Chloroquine
  • artemisinin
  • quinoline