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Abstract
The concentration and time point at which lethal effects in Brugia malayi adult female worms are observed following treatment with different concentrations of thiabendazole were studied in vitro by measuring worm motility, microfilariae release and MTT assay. Results showed that-worm motility and microfilariae release assays are the best indicators of worm viability, still leaving worms usable for gene expression studies; and motility assay determines worm viability quicker than mf release assay for gene expression studies. The concentration and time points, at which B. malayi worms show varying level of susceptibility to albendazole (ABZ), were determined in vivo. Moderately active worms with increased drug susceptibility at 21 days post-treatment (DPT) and highly active worms with greater tolerance at 28 DPT were selected. RNA was extracted from these worms for microarray analysis to gain basic knowledge of gene expression in B. malayi that survived the treatment compared to worms susceptible to ABZ.