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Trafficked Proteins-Druggable in Plasmodium falciparum?
Jasmin Lindner1, Kamila Anna Meissner, Isolmar Schettert
1Unit for Drug Discovery, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Science, University of São Paulo, Avenida Prof. Lineu Prestes 1374, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
International Journal of Cell Biology
|May 28, 2013
Summary
Malaria treatment requires new drugs due to spreading resistance. This review explores novel antimalarial chemotherapeutics and drug targets involved in malaria parasite protein trafficking.
Area of Science:
- Malariology
- Parasitology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Malaria causes over half a million deaths annually, primarily in African children.
- Current treatment relies on chemotherapy, but drug resistance is a growing concern.
- There is an urgent need for new antimalarial drugs and drug targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current discoveries in antimalarial chemotherapeutics.
- To identify potential drug targets within the malaria parasite's protein trafficking pathways.
- To highlight strategies for impeding parasite proliferation by interfering with protein transport.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on malaria parasite proteins and drug discovery.
- Analysis of essential plasmodial proteins and their intra- or extracellular destinations.
- Examination of protein trafficking processes as targets for antimalarial intervention.
Main Results:
- Several essential plasmodial proteins are crucial for parasite survival and proliferation.
- Targeting these proteins or their transport pathways offers a promising strategy for new antimalarials.
- Understanding protein trafficking is key to developing effective chemotherapy against drug-resistant malaria.
Conclusions:
- Interfering with protein trafficking in the malaria parasite can inhibit its growth.
- Novel chemotherapeutics targeting protein transport mechanisms are under development.
- Further research into plasmodial protein trafficking is vital for combating malaria.
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