Stress Response and Artemisinin Resistance in Malaria Parasite
Abstract
Malaria control programs have reduced disease incidence worldwide by 50% since the year 2000, avoiding an estimated 3.3 million deaths worldwide. Cornerstones of this success are ACTs (artemisinin combination therapies), a drug combination that is highly effective against the malaria parasite. Unfortunately, recent reports from Southeast Asia have indicated the appearance of ACT-resistant parasites. In order to contain the spread of drug-resistant malaria parasites, we urgently need to develop new drugs to include in combination therapies to provide a second line of defense against the malaria parasite in case of ACT failure. Our project proposes to study a pathway that is activated in ACT-resistant malaria parasites. If our hypothesis is correct and this pathway allows the parasite to overcome the ACTs lethal effects, we would have identified a therapeutic target to develop new antimalarial drugs. The inhibition of this pathway would help contain the spread of ACT-resistant malaria parasites, and it will cement our gains against the disease.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 31, 2017
- Source ID
- W81XWH1610241
Entities
People
- Juan Pizarro
Organizations
- Tulane University of Louisiana
- United States Army