USF researchers have developed quinolone-based compounds and methods of treatment that can be used to prevent and treat malaria. A quinolone is class of antibiotics used to treat a large variety of infections, and is known to exhibit antiplasmodial and antimalarial activity. Specifically, USF researchers have optimized a series of antimalarial piperazine-substituted 4(1H)-quinolones to increase their solubility and bioactivity, making them highly efficacious against multiple stages of malaria. The compounds and formulations in this technology are effective against Plasmodium parasites, which cause malaria in humans. These compounds are effective when the parasite is in the liver stage or blood stage, and can prevent or reduce transmission of the parasite to the mosquito.
Various Concentrations of 4(1H)-Quinolones in Mice Show Improved Survival Rates Compared to Controls