Ion transport in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

疟疾每年造成数亿病例，估计造成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耐药性越来越强。很有可能在不久的将来，世界上某些地区的疟疾将成为一种无法治愈的疾病，因此迫切需要确定新的药物靶点。然而，尽管疟疾寄生虫对世界卫生具有重要意义，但人们对这种有机体的基本生理学知之甚少。本项目主要研究寄生虫体内离子平衡的机制。离子平衡是所有细胞的基本“管家”功能，破坏相关机制将不可避免地损害细胞功能。本文提出的工作将有助于理解细胞内寄生虫的离子平衡，并为所涉及的机制是否可能成为合适的抗疟疾药物靶点提供见解。

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.