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Dissection of the lipoic acid metabolism as druggable target in Malaria

Grant number: 17/26358-0
Support Opportunities:Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
Start date: May 01, 2018
End date: June 30, 2022
Field of knowledge:Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
Principal Investigator:Carsten Wrenger
Grantee:Sun Liu Rei Yan
Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
Associated research grant:15/26722-8 - Drug discovery against human infectious diseases, AP.TEM

Abstract

The Malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum possesses organelles such as mitochondrion and the chloroplast-like compartment named apicoplast which is absent in the human host. Interference with metabolic pathways present in the latter one has been proven be lethal for the parasite. This doctoral research project aims to identify antibacterial compounds by targeting the lipoic acid metabolism of S. aureus utilizing two different approaches: the lipoic acid salvage pathway will be addressed by suicide substrates mimicking natural substrates, resulting in generation of nonfunctional cofactors that poison all cofactor dependent enzymes. A second approach intends to identify enzyme inhibitors targeting lipoic acid biosynthesis enzymes. The results may not only validate enzymes of the lipoic acid biosynthesis and salvage pathway as attractive targets for novel therapeutic approaches, but also provide bioactive molecules for further drug development. The discovery of drugs interfering with the lipoic acid metabolism in Malaria possesses a novel drug target which is restricted to the parasite. (AU)

News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship:
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Scientific publications (5)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
LINZKE, MARLEEN; YAN, SUN LIU REI; TARNOK, ATTILA; ULRICH, HENNING; GROVES, MATTHEW R.; WRENGER, CARSTEN. Live and Let Dye: Visualizing the Cellular Compartments of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Cytometry Part A, v. 97, n. 7, SI, . (12/50880-4, 17/03966-4, 15/26722-8, 14/23330-9, 17/26358-0, 12/50393-6)
REI YAN, SUN LIU; WAKASUQUI, FELIPE; DU, XIAOCHEN; GROVES, MATTHEW R.; WRENGER, CARSTEN. Lipoic Acid Metabolism as a Potential Chemotherapeutic Target Against Plasmodium falciparum and Staphylococcus aureus. RONTIERS IN CHEMISTR, v. 9, p. 7-pg., . (17/26358-0, 15/26722-8, 17/03966-4)
REI YAN, SUN L.; WAKASUQUI, FELIPE; WRENGER, CARSTEN. Point-of-care tests for malaria: speeding up the diagnostics at the bedside and challenges in malaria cases detection. DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, v. 98, n. 3, . (15/26722-8, 17/26358-0)
RIBEIRO, GIOVANE DE JESUS GOMES; YAN, SUN LIU REI; PALMISANO, GIUSEPPE; WRENGER, CARSTEN. Plant Extracts as a Source of Natural Products with Potential Antimalarial Effects: An Update from 2018 to 2022. PHARMACEUTICS, v. 15, n. 6, p. 19-pg., . (18/15549-1, 18/18257-1, 20/04923-0, 17/26358-0, 15/26722-8)
LINZKE, MARLEEN; YAN, SUN LIU REI; TARNOK, ATTILA; ULRICH, HENNING; GROVES, MATTHEW R.; WRENGER, CARSTEN. Live and Let Dye: Visualizing the Cellular Compartments of the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Cytometry Part A, v. 97, n. 7, p. 12-pg., . (17/03966-4, 12/50880-4, 14/23330-9, 12/50393-6, 17/26358-0, 15/26722-8)