Mode of action studies for kinetoplastic parasites

原生动物寄生虫布鲁氏锥虫、克氏锥虫和利什曼原虫在世界许多地区造成重大疾病负担。迫切需要新的和有效的药物来治疗这些破坏性的寄生虫病。为了支持我们的药物发现项目，我们建立了一个行动模式（MoA）小组（http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/other/kptools/）。由Susan Wyllie博士领导的这个小组的主要目标是确定对着丝质体寄生虫有活性的化合物的特定分子靶标。一个CASE博士奖学金现在可以在MoA组中获得。成功的申请人将利用各种最先进的分子生物学、细胞生物学和生化工具来鉴定已知对体外寄生虫有活性的化合物的特定分子靶点。在项目期间，学生将精通各种分子寄生虫学技术，包括全基因组方法，如RITseq （Nature(2012) 482: 232-236）和化学蛋白质组学方法，如CETSA。在这些研究过程中，学生将与我们药物发现部门（http://drugdiscovery.dundee.ac）的科学家密切合作。英国)，获得药物发现过程的宝贵经验。此外，还将与我们的CASE合作伙伴以及西班牙特雷斯坎托斯GSK发展中国家疾病团队的长期合作伙伴进行重要的互动。毫无疑问，这项奖学金是一个难得的机会，可以在开发治疗被忽视的热带病的有效药物方面发挥重要作用。项目提供跨学科技能培训。

The protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. cause a significant disease burden in many areas of the world. There is an urgent need for new and effective drugs to treat these devastating parasitic diseases. To support our drug discovery programs, we have established a Mode-of-Action (MoA) group (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/other/kptools/). The principal goal of the group, led by Dr Susan Wyllie, is to define the specific molecular targets of compounds that are active against kinetoplastid parasites. A CASE PhD studentship is now available within the MoA group. The successful applicant will utilise a variety of state of the art molecular biology, cell biology and biochemical tools to identify the specific molecular target(s) of compounds that are known to be active against parasites in vitro. During the project the student will become proficient in various molecular parasitology techniques including whole genome approaches such as RITseq (Nature (2012) 482: 232-236) and chemical proteomic approaches such as CETSA. In the course of these studies the student will work closely with the scientists within our Drug Discovery Unit (http://drugdiscovery.dundee.ac.uk), gaining invaluable experience of the drug discovery process. In addition, there will be significant interaction with our CASE partners and long established collaborators in the Diseases of the Developing World team at GSK, Tres Cantos, Spain. Undoubtedly, this studentship represents a rare opportunity to play a significant role in the development of effective drugs for the treatment of neglected tropical diseases.Project provides training in Interdisciplinary Skills.