Analysis of two putative candidate genes for isometamidium resistance in trypanosoma congolense.

The efficacy of the few available trypanocides is being seriously compromised by the emergence and spread of drug resistant trypanosome strains. Elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of this phenotype may contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms of development of resistance to the trypanocides. This knowledge can be exploited for the rational design of drugs to which the parasites may not easily develop resistance. In order to investigate genetic mechanisms underlying the isometamidium chloride resistance in African trypanosomes, a clone of Trypanosoma congolense was made 200-fold more resistant to the drug by continued subcurative treatment. Comparative differential display analysis was carried out on cDNA prepared from the isometamidium sensitive trypanosome clone, IL 1180, and its resistant derivative, IL1180x200R.