Transport proteins as drug targets in Plasmodium falciparum. new perspectives in the treatment of malaria
Ellekvist, P.; Colding, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 168(13): 1314-1317
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 1603-6824 PMID: 16579884 Document Number: 601639
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, infects and replicates in human erythrocytes. Through the use of substrate-specific transport proteins, P. falciparum takes up nutrients from the erythrocyte's cytoplasm. The sequencing and publishing of the P. falciparum genome have made it possible to identify, clone and characterise a number of these transport proteins from the parasite. Since the P. falciparum transport proteins differ from their human homologues, they may provide potential drug targets in the treatment of malaria. An example of a P. falciparum transport protein which seems promising as a drug target is the parasite's hexose transporter. Furthermore, the antimalarial drug artemisinin has been shown to interact specifically with the parasite's Ca2+ pump. A number of other transport proteins are also discussed as possible drug targets.