Haemozoin (malaria pigment): a unique crystalline drug target

Abstract

Historically, chloroquine has been the most important antimalarial. Current evidence suggests that resistance to this drug is not the result of a change in its target, which remains important in the design of novel antimalarials, an area of active research. Many studies support the hypothesis that this target is haematin, whereas a recent report suggests that the haemozoin (malaria pigment) crystal itself might in fact be the target. A detailed understanding of the mechanism and structure of this interaction could revolutionise the search for new antimalarials in the near future.