How malaria parasites use RNA and RNA-binding proteins to survive
RNA-Binding Proteins and RNA-Dependent Proteins - An Emerging Role for RNAs in Plasmodium Biology
This project looks at proteins that bind or depend on RNA in the malaria parasite to find new weaknesses drugs could target.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264905 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and RNA-dependent proteins (RDPs) in Plasmodium falciparum using a lab technique called R-DeeP alongside mass spectrometry and computational analysis. They will reconstruct parasite multiprotein complexes to see which assemblies rely on RNA and are important for parasite growth and development. The team will validate key protein–RNA interactions with molecular experiments and compare findings to existing datasets. The goal is to reveal parasite pathways that could be blocked by future anti-malarial therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with P. falciparum malaria or donors of parasite samples from endemic areas who could provide isolates or join future related clinical studies.
Not a fit: People without P. falciparum infection or those needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct or immediate benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new targets that lead to anti-malarial drugs that better kill P. falciparum and reduce severe malaria.
How similar studies have performed: Similar protein-mapping approaches have identified targets in other organisms and the investigators' preliminary work found hundreds of candidate RDPs, but translating those findings into new drugs remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Riverside, United States
- University of California Riverside — Riverside, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Le Roch, Karine Gaelle — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Le Roch, Karine Gaelle
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.