Plasmodium falciparum: Growth response to potassium channel blocking compounds

Potassium channels are essential for cell survival and regulate the cell membrane potential and electrochemical gradient. During its lifecycle, Plasmodium falciparum parasites must rapidly adapt to dramatically variant ionic conditions within the mosquito mid-gut, the hepatocyte and red blood cell (RBC) cytosols, and the human circulatory system. To probe the participation of K⁺ channels in parasite viability, growth response assays were performed in which asexual stage P. falciparum parasites were cultured in the presence of various Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel blocking compounds. These data describe the novel anti-malarial effects of bicuculline methiodide and tubocurarine chloride and the novel lack of effect of apamine and verruculogen. Taken together, the data herein imply the presence of K⁺ channels, or other parasite-specific targets, in P. falciparum-infected RBCs that are sensitive to blockade with Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channel blocking compounds.