Ion transport in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

人类疟原虫恶性疟原虫中的离子传输

• 批准号: nhmrc : 224243
• 负责人: Prof Kiaran Kirk
• 金额: $ 15.7万
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: NHMRC Project Grants
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2003-01-01 至 2005-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://researchdata.edu.au/ion-transport-human-plasmodium-falciparum/77489
• 关键词: Ion; transport; human; malaria; parasite

Malaria is responsible for hundreds of millions of cases and an estimated 1.5-2.7 million deaths each year. The disease is caused by a microscopic parasite which is becoming increasingly resistant to antimalarial drugs. There is a very real possibility that there will soon be parts of the world in which malaria is an untreatable disease, and there is an urgent need to identify new drug targets. However, despite the significance of the malaria parasite for world health, the basic physiology of this organism is poorly understood. This project focuses on the mechanisms involved in ion balance in the parasite. Ion balance is a basic 'housekeeping' function in all cells, and disruption of the mechanisms involved will inevitably impair cell function. The work proposed here will lead to an understanding of ion balance in the intracellular parasite and provide insight into whether the mechanisms involved may be suitable antimalarial drug targets.

疟疾每年造成数亿病例，估计有150万至270万人死亡。这种疾病是由一种微小的寄生虫引起的，这种寄生虫对抗疟疾药物的抗药性越来越强。非常真实的可能性是，世界上一些地区很快就会出现疟疾无法治愈的疾病，迫切需要确定新的药物靶点。然而，尽管疟疾寄生虫对世界健康的重要性，这种生物体的基本生理学知之甚少。该项目的重点是寄生虫中离子平衡的机制。离子平衡是所有细胞的基本“管家”功能，所涉及的机制的破坏将不可避免地损害细胞功能。这里提出的工作将导致了解离子平衡的细胞内寄生虫，并提供洞察所涉及的机制是否可能是合适的抗疟药物的目标。