Molecular Genetic Analysis Of Parasite Survival In P. Falciparum Malaria.
Abstract
The human malaria parasite continues to pose a significant health problem to one half of the world's population. Entry into endemic areas places those individuals at risk of morbidity and mortality from this protozoan parasite. the lack of effective immunoprophalaxis has refocussed efforts at defining the unique biology of this parasite in order to develop more effective chemotherapeutic agents. Work in my laboratory has concentrated on defining the mode of gene regulation in this organism and providing insight into the strategies developed by the parasite to overcome innate host immune responses. The long-term goal of this research is to manipulate the genome of the organism by developing approaches enabling the cloning of parasite DNA and reintroduction of those altered genes back into the parasite's genome. Progress in the past year has been achieved in constructing and characterizing yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) libraries from P. falciparum and utilizing these sources of stably cloned DNA to define putative promoter elements for asexual intraerythrocytic stage genes. YAC clones have also facilitated the discovery of new transcription units and the relationship of these genes to previously defined chromosomal rearrangements. These studies have resulted in the identification of several DNA sequences which are the sites for nuclear protein binding. These DNA elements have been used in attempts to drive the expression of heterologous reporter genes in DNA transfection studies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 03, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA258591
Entities
People
- Jeffrey Ravetch
Organizations
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center