1. [Transport proteins as drug targets in Plasmodium falciparum. New perspectives in the treatment of malaria].
- Author
-
Ellekvist P and Colding H
- Subjects
- Animals, Antimalarials therapeutic use, Calcium metabolism, Erythrocytes metabolism, Erythrocytes parasitology, Humans, Membrane Transport Proteins drug effects, Membrane Transport Proteins genetics, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins drug effects, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins genetics, Plasmodium falciparum drug effects, Plasmodium falciparum genetics, Protozoan Proteins drug effects, Protozoan Proteins genetics, Antimalarials pharmacology, Malaria, Falciparum drug therapy, Membrane Transport Proteins metabolism, Monosaccharide Transport Proteins metabolism, Plasmodium falciparum metabolism, Protozoan Proteins metabolism
- Abstract
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, infects and replicates in human erythrocytes. Through the use of substrate-specific transport proteins, P. falciparum takes up nutrients from the erythrocyte's cytoplasm. The sequencing and publishing of the P. falciparum genome have made it possible to identify, clone and characterise a number of these transport proteins from the parasite. Since the P. falciparum transport proteins differ from their human homologues, they may provide potential drug targets in the treatment of malaria. An example of a P. falciparum transport protein which seems promising as a drug target is the parasite's hexose transporter. Furthermore, the antimalarial drug artemisinin has been shown to interact specifically with the parasite's Ca2+ pump. A number of other transport proteins are also discussed as possible drug targets.
- Published
- 2006