Investigating a new treatment for a common childhood infection caused by parasites.
Structural Analysis and Inhibitor Optimization of Cryptosporidium n-myristoyltransferase for Drug Discovery
This study is looking for new ways to treat cryptosporidiosis, a tough intestinal infection that mainly affects young children who are malnourished, by testing different compounds to find ones that can stop a key enzyme that the parasites need to survive.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10988262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing new treatments for cryptosporidiosis, a severe intestinal infection that primarily affects malnourished children under five years old. The team is analyzing a specific enzyme, N-myristoyltransferase, which is crucial for the survival of the Cryptosporidium parasites. By screening a large library of compounds, they aim to identify effective inhibitors that could lead to new drug options. The approach involves high-throughput screening to find compounds that can block the enzyme's activity, potentially leading to better treatment outcomes for affected children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of five who are suffering from cryptosporidiosis or are at high risk of infection.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than five years or those who do not have cryptosporidiosis may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of effective treatments for cryptosporidiosis, significantly reducing illness and mortality in young children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully identified drug targets in similar parasitic infections, suggesting that this approach may yield promising results.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Staker, Bart Lee — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Staker, Bart Lee
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.