Neglected disease research at the interface of chemistry and genetics.

The laboratory is interested in developing innovative ways to treat and diagnose tropical diseases with a long-term interest in promoting development and reducing poverty. Most of our efforts are focused on malaria, a disease affecting 250-500 million people annually. First, we are developing genome-wide methods for discovering and tracking genes conferring resistance to drugs with antimalarial activity. For example, we are studying the genomes of drug resistant and drug sensitive malaria parasites from the Peruvian Amazon with the goal of finding the genetic determinants of drug resistance. We are also involved in discovering how thousand of chemical inhibitors with antimalarial activity are working to kill the parasites with a goal of discovering chemically-validated targets and chemical tool compounds. Additionally, we are playing a role in public-private partnerships to develop new drugs to treat malaria. Finally, we are using somatic cell and host genetics to investigate host pathogen interactions. Our efforts involve chemical and traditional genetics, genomics, high-content imaging, screening and a network of national and international collaborators interested in public health.

Recently in the news!

November 2011:

"New antimalaria treatment holds promise as prophylactic" - Wall Street Journal
"Novartis malaria drug kills bugs at earliest stage, study shows" - Bloomberg
"Scientists identify new class of antimalarial compounds" - TSRI News and Views

Meister S, Plouffe DM, Kuhen KL, Bonamy GMC, Wu T, Barnes SW, Bopp SE, Borboa R, Bright AT, Che J, Cohen S, Dharia NV, Gagaring K, Gettayacamin M, Gordon P, Groessl T, Kato N, Lee MCS, McNamara CW, Fidock DA, Nagle A, Nam TG, Richmond W, Roland J, Rottmann M, Zhou B, Froissard P, Glynne RJ, Mazier D, Sattabongkot J, Schultz PG, Tuntland T, Walker JR, Zhou Y, Chatterjee A, Diagana TT, Winzeler EA. (2011). Imaging of Plasmodium liver stages to drive next-generation antimalarial drug discovery. Science, 334(6061):1372-77.
[PubMed   |  Abstract]

September 2010:

"New malaria drug candidate holds promise" - Wall Street Journal
"Experimental Novartis drug shows malaria promise" - Reuters
"Novartis malaria drug may yield first new treatment in 30 years" - Bloomberg
"Chemical may cure malaria" - LA Times

Rottmann M, McNamara C, Yeung BKS, Lee MCS, Zou B, Russell B, Seitz P, Plouffe DM, Dharia NV, Tan J, Cohen SB, Spencer KR, González-Páez GE, Lakshminarayana SB, Goh A, Suwanarusk R, Jegla T, Schmitt EK, Beck HP, Brun R, Nosten F, Renia L, Dartois V, Keller TH, Fidock DA, Winzeler EA, Diagana TT. (2010) Spiroindolones, a potent compound class for the treatment of malaria. Science, 329(5996):1175-80.
[PubMed  |  Abstract]

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