Spaccapelo Lab

Università degli Studi di Perugia

Targeting Plasmodium falciparum E3 Ubiquitin Ligases with PROTAC Technology to Overcome Malaria Drug Resistance


Description

Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a global health challenge, with drug-resistant strains reducing the effectiveness of current treatments. A promising new approach targets the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which the parasite relies on to manage cellular stress and survive.
 
This project explores PROTAC technology, a cutting-edge drug discovery method that selectively degrades parasite-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases—key enzymes that differ significantly from those in humans. By disrupting these essential proteins, we aim to develop highly targeted antimalarial therapies that can bypass existing drug resistance and offer a new, more effective treatment strategy.

Collaborators

Università degli Studi di Perugia:
Dipartimento di Chimica, Biologia e Biotecnologie - Gabriele Cruciani, Laura Goracci, and Manlio di Cristina

Funding

PON Ricerca e Innovazione

Tools
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