Propidium iodide-based methods for monitoring drug action in the kinetoplastidae: Comparison with the Alamar Blue assay

Gould, M.K., Vu, X.L., Seebeck, T. and De Koning, H.P. (2008) Propidium iodide-based methods for monitoring drug action in the kinetoplastidae: Comparison with the Alamar Blue assay. Analytical Biochemistry, 382(2), pp. 87-93. (doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.07.036)

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Abstract

The urgent need for new drug development for African trypanosomiasis is widely recognized. This requires reliable and informative high-throughput assays. Currently, drug action is determined with a fluorimetric/colorimetric assay based on the metabolism of the dye Alamar Blue (resazurin) by live cells. However, this assay does not easily distinguish between cell death and growth arrest, or supply information about the speed at which test compounds affect these parameters. We report here an alternative fluorimetric assay, based on the interaction of propidium iodide with DNA, that allows either real-time monitoring of cell viability or the generation of EC<sub>50</sub> values at a predetermined time-point. The assay is highly sensitive and fluorescence readings easily correlate to numbers of parasites or DNA content. The EC<sub>50</sub> values were highly similar to those obtained with the standard Alamar Blue assay. The procedure lends itself readily to applications in drug development or resistance monitoring.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:Propidium iodide, Drug action, Kinetoplastidae, Alamar Blue assay
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:De Koning, Professor Harry
Authors: Gould, M.K., Vu, X.L., Seebeck, T., and De Koning, H.P.
Subjects:Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Analytical Biochemistry
ISSN:0003-2697
Published Online:03 August 2008

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