Energy use and proton pumps in early-stage malaria parasites
Proton pumping and energy metabolism of the ring stage malaria parasites
['FUNDING_R01'] · DREXEL UNIVERSITY · NIH-11332849
Researchers are looking at how early-stage malaria parasites power themselves to find new ways to kill them and help people with malaria.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | DREXEL UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11332849 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This research looks at how Plasmodium falciparum survives inside red blood cells during the ring stage by studying its energy machinery in the lab. Scientists will grow parasites and use biochemical, molecular, and imaging methods to examine a pyrophosphate-driven proton pump and other metabolic pathways. They will test whether blocking this energy system weakens or kills the ring-stage parasites that often survive current drugs. By focusing on this hard-to-target stage, the work aims to point to drug strategies that could prevent dormancy and resistance.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with recent Plasmodium falciparum infection or healthy volunteers willing to donate blood samples for parasite isolation or related laboratory studies.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment or those infected with non-falciparum malaria species are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic lab research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets that kill ring-stage parasites and help overcome some forms of antimalarial resistance.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies have identified unusual proton pumps in parasites and suggested them as drug targets, but targeting the ring-stage pyrophosphate-driven pump is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES
- DREXEL UNIVERSITY — PHILADELPHIA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KE, HANGJUN — DREXEL UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KE, HANGJUN
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.