Antiretroviral Drugs Effective Against Malaria Parasite, Study Says

Antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV infection might be used to treat or prevent malaria infection, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, the Australian reports (Murdoch, Australian, 11/10). Tina Skinner-Adams of the Malaria Biology Laboratory at the School of Population Health at the University of Queensland and colleagues studied the effect of six protease inhibitor antiretrovirals on the malaria parasite in laboratory rats and found that three of the drugs indirectly hampered the growth of the parasite (Skinner-Adams et al., Journal of Infectious Diseases, 12/1). According to researcher Kathy Andrews, the study results will be "particular[ly]" useful in sub-Saharan Africa, where there is a high rate of HIV/malaria co-infection, the Australian reports. "The problem of co-infection is becoming more apparent as time goes on to the point you can't really look at a particular infection as an isolated organism anymore," Andrews said. She added that because the antiretrovirals already have gained approval for use in HIV-positive people, it "would not be long" before the researchers can begin testing the drugs for malaria treatment and prevention in humans, according to the Australian (Australian, 11/10).