Targeting the Shikimate Pathway in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The shikimate pathway presents an attractive target for malaria chemotherapy. Three shikimic acid analogs exhibited different effects on Plasmodium falciparum growth. (6R)-6-Fluoro-shikimate and (6S)-6-fluoro-shikimate inhibited growth (50% inhibitory concentrations, 1.5 × 10(−5) and 2.7 × 10(−4) M, respectively), whereas 2-fluoro-shikimate had no effect. para-Aminobenzoic acid abrogated the inhibition, demonstrating that the shikimate pathway was specifically targeted.