Ion transport in the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum

Funded Activity Summary

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by single-cell protozoan parasites which, during the course of their complex lifecycle, invade the red blood cells of their human hosts. In recent years the emergence and spread of malaria parasites with high levels of antimalarial drug resistance has given rise to the very real possibility that within a few years, there will be large parts of the world in which malaria is an untreatable disease. There is therefore an urgent need for new antimalarial drugs. Despite the enormous clinical significance of the malaria parasite, the basic physiology of this organism is not understood. Pathways involved in ion balance, in the uptake of essential nutrients and in the release of potentially toxic waste products all play a crucial role in the survival of the parasite and are potential chemotherapeutic targets. However the properties of these pathways are, as yet, largely unknown. This work will provide fundamental (and pharmacological) information about these pathways. It will thereby open up exciting new possibilities with regard to the chemotherapy of malaria and will provide a rational basis for a strategy in which these pathways might be exploited as antimalarial drug targets.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 01-01-2002

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $225,721.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Membrane Biology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

antimalarials | cell physiology | chemotherapy | chloroquine-resistance | ion channels | malaria | membrane transport

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