Anti-sense oligodeoxynucleoside phosphorothioates nonspecifically inhibit invasion of red blood cells by malaria parasites.

Anti-sense and sense oligodeoxynucleoside phosphorothioates, based on analysis of the secondary structure of Plasmodium falciparumdihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase mRNA, were synthesized. Their effects on P. falciparum growth in vitro were examined by microscopy and [3H] hypoxanthine incorporation. Both anti-sense and sense oligodeoxynucleoside phosphorothioates inhibit invasion of red blood cells by merozoites and this is interpreted as being caused by their polyanionic nature. Specific anti-sense effects of the oligonucleoside phosphorothioates could not however be demonstrated.