Chemical libraries targeting Liver Stage Malarial infection

Abstract

Despite the noteworthy advances in the use of chemotherapy for malaria, it continues to constantly affect large number of individuals. New molecules capable of blocking life-cycle of the parasite, preferably through targeting novel pathways and various modes of action, are increasingly becoming area of interest. Phenotypic screening of large chemical libraries is certainly one of the important criteria for the discovery of new and effective drugs. In recent years, diverse research groups including pharmaceutical industries have performed this large-scale phenotypic screening to identify the potential drug molecules. Most of the antimalarial drugs target blood-stage malarial infection and remain either less potent or ineffective against other life stages i.e. liver-stage, and the gametocyte stages of the parasite. Although, liver stage is considered as a crucial drug target, limited clinical options have significantly hampered the discovery of effective treatments. This short review presents the collection of selective molecules targeting specifically liver stage malaria parasites.