A7: Plasmodium chaperones, co-chaperones and their interactions as a target for drug development

Principal Investigator:

Prof. Dr. Jude Przyborski

Interdisziplinäres Forschungszentrum (iFZ)
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32
35392 Gießen
Tel.: +49 (0)641-99 39114
E-Mail: jude.przyborski(at)ernaehrung.uni-giessen(dot)de

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Project description

Overview of assay design

Malaria parasites invade and live within mature human red blood cells RBC). To enable their survival, the parasite renovates it’s chosen host cell to its own advantage. Infected red blood cells become sticky and adhere to the lining of small blood vessels, and also coat themselves with proteins which enable them to become invisible the immune system. This unfortunately causes disease in the patient, and eventually leads to death. We have recently identified a number of important molecular players which are essential for this renovation process, including members of the so-called HSP70 and HSP40

families. It is the goal of this project to block the function of HSP40 and HSP70. If we can do this, parasites are likely to be cleared from the bloodstream, relieving the severity of disease. To do this, we will establish a number of assays to measure the activity of HSP40/HSP70, and use these to search for compounds which reduce this interaction. Promising compounds will then be tested directly on parasites for their ability to reduce host cell modification.


References A7: 1. Diehl et al. (2021) PLoS Pathogens 17:e1009969 2. Zhang et al. (2017) Sci Rep 7: 42188 3. Charnaud et al. (2017) PLoS One 12: e0181656 4. Külzer et al. (2012) Cell Micro 14: 1784-95 5. Külzer et al. (2010) Cell Micro 12: 1398-1420