Drug Resistance in Protozoan Parasites : Chloroquine Resistance in Leishmania major

병원성 원생동물의 변이와 약물내성 : Leishmania major의 클로로퀸 내성

A comparative study was performed on two different strains of Leishmania major, chloroquine sensitive strains (Chl$^{S}$) and its mutant chloroquine resistant strains (Chl$^{R}$). Chl$^{R}$ strains were obtained at 5$\times$$10^{-4}$M chloroquine. Remarkable differences were observed at the initial chloroquine uptake in Chl$^{R}$ and Chl$^{S}$, i.e., the rate of uptake was very reduced in Chl$^{R}$ (Km values were 70 nM and 125 nM, respectively). Influx and accumulation of chloroquine were also compared between wild type and mutant. An increasing tendency in both influx and accumulation of chloroquine was shown in Chl$^{S}$, but Chl$^{R}$ demonstrated a rapid release after a little uptake (influx) at the early stage. This result is thought to be basis of their resistance for Chl$^{R}$ strains.