Abstract: 　Objective] To study the inhibition of growth of Plasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide (AS ODN) against histidine-rich proteins (HRP). [Methods] The ODNs against HRP Ⅱ and HRP Ⅲ were synthesized and used to study the antimalarial activities in vitro . Plasmodium falciparum (FCC1/HN strain, China) were exposed to AS DONs for 48 h, and the growth inhibi tion was determined by microscopic examination. [Results] At 1 μmol/L, all ODNs inhibited parasite growth and development in a target-indepentent manner. However, when the ODN concentrations were between 0.01 and 0 5 μmol/L, the AS ODN significantly inhibited the growth and development of P falciparum compared with ODN controls ( P <0 01). Inhibition by the sense strand ODN did not differ significantly from the control group ( P> 0 05). [Conclusion] Blockade of the expression of HRPⅡ and HRPⅢ AS ODN could inhibit P falciparum cultured in vitro .

Key words: oligodeoxyribonucleotide(ODN), antisense, Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein (HRP), malarial pigment