How malaria parasites' mitochondria help them survive medicines
Official title: MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF MALARIA MITOCHONDRIAL GENE REGULATION
Funded at Idaho State University · NIH-11290405 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the malaria parasite's mitochondria let it survive treatments so researchers can find parts of the parasite that new drugs could target for people with malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Idaho State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pocatello, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2022 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $384,913 |
| NIH project number | 5DP2AI164244-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290405 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Plasmodium falciparum malaria or recent blood samples containing the parasite could be relevant for sample donation or future trial recruitment.
✕Less likely to help
People without P. falciparum infection or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this lab-focused research.
What this research studies
As someone affected by malaria, I learn that researchers are examining the parasite's single mitochondrion and its many tiny genome copies to understand how hidden mutant genes might help the parasite survive drugs. They combine whole-genome sequencing and metabolic profiling of parasite samples to track mitochondrial gene activity and recombination events. The team aims to identify mitochondrial proteins and control systems that the parasite cannot easily change, making them promising drug targets. This is laboratory work on parasite biology and could point to new drug strategies rather than testing medicines in patients right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal new drug targets that are less likely to develop resistance, leading to longer-lasting malaria treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Some existing antimalarials target mitochondrial functions but resistance has appeared, and combining genome sequencing with metabolic profiling is a relatively new way to seek more durable targets.
Where this research is happening
-
Idaho State University
Pocatello, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lane, Kristin D — Idaho State University
- Study coordinator: Lane, Kristin D
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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.