The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
-
J. Antimicrob. Chemother. · Feb 2018
Endoperoxide-based compounds: cross-resistance with artemisinins and selection of a Plasmodium falciparum lineage with a K13 non-synonymous polymorphism.
Owing to the emergence of multiresistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites in Southeast Asia, along with the impressive decrease in the efficacy of the endoperoxide compound artemisinin and of artemisinin-based combination therapies, the development of novel antimalarial drugs or combinations is required. Although several antiplasmodial molecules, such as endoperoxide-based compounds, are in advanced research or development, we do not know whether resistance to artemisinin derivatives might impact the efficacy of these new compounds. ⋯ These worrisome results indicate the risk of cross-resistance between artemisinins and endoperoxide-based antiplasmodial drugs in the development of the K13 mutant parasites and question the usefulness of these molecules in the future therapeutic arsenal.