A laboratory robot powered by artificial intelligence has discovered that a compound commonly found in toothpaste could be used to combat drug-resistant malaria parasites. Triclosan could be deployed against strains of plasmodium malaria parasites that have evolved resistance to the widely used drug pyrimethamine, according to the University of Cambridge. Pyrimethamine works by inhibiting a particular enzyme called DHFR and scientists have known for some time that triclosan can be employed to target another enzyme, ENR. “We know it is a safe compound, and its ability to target two points in the malaria parasite’s life cycle means the parasite will find it difficult to evolve resistance.”The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. “The search for new medicines is becoming increasingly urgent.”Malaria kills more than half a million people per year.

Source: Punch January 21, 2018 17:26 UTC