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pubmed:abstractText |
The resurgence of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), coupled with an increased incidence of drug resistance, is of concern. We report a quick, simple, and sensitive test for identification of parasites resistant to melarsoprol, the main drug used to treat late stage HAT. Resistant parasites are defective in a plasma membrane transporter responsible for drug uptake. The same transporter carries the fluorescent diamidine DB99 (2,5-bis-(4-amidinophenyl)-3,4-dimethylfuran) into trypanosomes. The two DNA-containing structures in the trypanosome--the nucleus and the kinetoplast--begin to fluoresce within 1 min of introduction of DB99, unless drug resistant.
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pubmed:affiliation |
University of Glasgow, Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, The Joseph Black Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
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