Infectious disease

Mouse studies identified imidazopyridine-based compounds that could help treat malaria. Screening of a small molecule library in parasite culture followed by optimization of an imidazopyridine-based screening hit yielded two compounds that inhibited Plasmodium falciparum growth with IC₅₀ values of 18 nM and less than 95 nM, respectively -- potencies comparable to those of chloroquine and artesunate. In a mouse model of malaria, both compounds decreased parasitemia compared with vehicle. Next steps could include testing the compounds in additional models of malaria...