Broad-spectrum antiparasitic targets in apicomplexan parasites
Official title: Comparative Mechanistic and Structural Analysis of Apicomplexan Phosphoethanolamine N-Methyltransferases for Broad-Spectrum Antiparasitic Discovery
Funded at Kennesaw State University · NIH-11425038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study parasite enzymes essential for their cell membranes to find new drug targets that could help treat malaria and other infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kennesaw State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kennesaw, United States) |
| Project start | July 13, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $144,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AI201126-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11425038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals affected by malaria, toxoplasmosis, cyclosporiasis, or related apicomplexan infections, or populations at risk in areas with endemic disease.
✕Less likely to help
Well-controlled preclinical work may not directly benefit patients in the short term, and research progress may occur over years before treatments are available.
What this research studies
This project focuses on comparing key enzymes (PMTs) across several human and animal parasites to understand how they work and how they bind molecules. It combines genomics, biochemistry, biophysics, and mutagenesis with AI-driven structural analysis to map where these enzymes are similar or different and which parts could be targeted by drugs. The work includes validating computational findings with experimental data to reveal high-resolution structures and druggable pockets. By identifying conserved features and species-specific differences, the project aims to guide the development of broad-spectrum antiparasitic compounds that are selective for the parasite enzymes. The effort could pave the way for new therapies against diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites such as malaria, toxoplasmosis, and cyclosporiasis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from new antiparasitic drugs that target parasite enzymes with potentially fewer side effects to humans.
How similar studies have gone: Similar strategies using structure-guided drug design and AI-assisted modeling have shown promise in identifying parasite-specific drug targets, but this project extends that approach to multiple parasites and focuses on PMTs.
Where this research is happening
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Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Soon Goo — Kennesaw State University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Soon Goo
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.