Clearing chronic Toxoplasma (toxoplasmosis) infections
Exploiting Diversity-Oriented Chemical Synthesis for Combating Chronic Parasitic Infection
Researchers are developing new medicines to kill the dormant form of the Toxoplasma parasite that hides in the brain and muscles, aiming to help people with chronic toxoplasmosis and those at risk of reactivation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11132204 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Scientists will design and synthesize new chemical compounds built on a bicyclic pyrrolidine scaffold that targets the parasite enzyme phenylalanine tRNA synthetase (PheRS). These compounds will be tested in laboratory assays and in infected animal models to measure effects on both active and dormant (bradyzoite) parasite stages. The team will study metabolism and safety in preclinical models to pick candidates with the best efficacy and tolerability. Promising leads will be advanced toward the studies needed before human clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with chronic Toxoplasma infection, especially those who are immunocompromised or women planning pregnancy, are the intended future candidates for clinical trials of these drugs.
Not a fit: People without Toxoplasma infection or those with only acute infection already controlled by existing therapies may not benefit directly from drugs targeting the chronic bradyzoite stage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could eliminate the dormant parasite stage that current treatments cannot remove, lowering the risk of reactivation in immunocompromised people and reducing congenital transmission risk.
How similar studies have performed: Targeting parasite aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases has shown promise in preclinical work, but reliably clearing chronic bradyzoites in animals remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sibley, L. David — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Sibley, L. David
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 below.