Paper II
2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme)

Question

Sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine in malaria

Q101 marksShort Answers

Answer

Sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine both act on the folate synthesis pathway of the malarial parasite, but at two sequential steps: sulfadoxine inhibits dihydropteroate synthase (blocking PABA incorporation into folate), while pyrimethamine inhibits dihydrofolate reductase (blocking conversion to the active tetrahydrofolate). This sequential dual blockade produces a synergistic antimalarial effect greater than either drug alone, and this combination (SP) is used as a partner drug in artemisinin-based combination therapy and for intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy.

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