Understanding how malaria parasite invasion works at the molecular level
Official title: Understanding the molecular basis for Plasmodium rhoptry development
Funded at Texas State University · NIH-11420223 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how malaria parasites build a specialized attack tool inside their cells to invade human red blood cells and how blocking this process could lead to new therapies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Marcos, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $188,124 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AI200951-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11420223 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable as described; research is focused on parasite biology using biochemical approaches.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is described in the grant abstract.
What this research studies
Malaria causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year, and this research aims to map how the parasite’s rhoptries—key organelles used to invade red blood cells—develop and function. By studying the essential enzyme PM IX and other rhoptry components, the work seeks to uncover how these structures are assembled and how they control the delivery of invasion proteins. The findings could point to new therapeutic strategies that stop invasion at a molecular level. The project will use biochemical and bioassay approaches to understand protein sorting and maturation within rhoptries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of malaria invasion mechanisms could lead to novel drugs that prevent infection or reduce disease severity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that disrupting rhoptry maturation can render parasites noninvasive, suggesting this approach is promising but complex.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas State University
San Marcos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukherjee, Sumit — Texas State University
- Study coordinator: Mukherjee, Sumit
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.