An in Vitro System for Screening Potential Antimalarial Drugs *

Abstract

Evaluation of large numbers of potential antimalarial agents requires systems that are simple, reliable, and accurate. We used one such system that employed multiple, dilute, in vitro cultures of Plasmodium knowlesi to assess effectiveness of drugs. Assessment was made by observation of changes in morphologic maturation of the parasites, incorporation of 14C-methionine into protein, and lactic acid production. Reliability was demonstrated by reproducible dose-response relations of known antimalarial drugs.