Is the AT-rich DNA of malaria parasites a drug target?

A recent antimalarial screen by Alder and colleagues has uncovered a natural product, PDE-I2, with DNA binding and schizonticidal activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Parasite specificity is likely conferred by the extremely high A+T content of the P. falciparum genome. We discuss here this character as a potential target for future drugs.

Automated summary

A recent study has found a natural product called PDE-I2, which has DNA binding and schizonticidal activity against Plasmodium falciparum. The high A+T content in the parasite's genome likely contributes to its specificity. This finding highlights the potential of targeting this characteristic for future drug development.