in vitro

Members of the mitochondrial carrier (MC) family of membrane transporters play important roles in cellular metabolism. We previously established an in vitro reconstitution system for membrane transporters based on wheat germ cell-free translation system. We have now applied this reconstitution system to the comparative analysis of MC proteins from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We synthesized twelve putative P. falciparum MCs and determined the transport activities of four of these proteins including PF3D7_1037300 protein (ADP/ATP translocator), PF3D7_1004800 protein (ADP/ATP translocator), PF3D7_1,202,200 protein (phosphate carrier), and PF3D7_1241600 protein (S-adenosylmethionine transporter).

The natural naphthoquinones lapachol, α- and β-lapachone are found in Bignoniaceous Brazilian plant species of the Tabebuia genus (synonym Handroanthus) and are recognized for diverse bioactivities, including as antimalarial. The aim of the present work was to perform in silico, in vitro and in vivo studies to evaluating the antimalarial potential of these three naphthoquinones in comparison with atovaquone, a synthetic antimalarial.

Malaria, caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, is a disease that infects hundreds of millions of people annually, causing an enormous social burden in many developing countries. Since current antimalarial drugs are starting to face resistance by the parasite, the development of new therapeutic options has been prompted. The enzyme Plasmodium falciparum enoyl-ACP reductase (PfENR) has a determinant role in the fatty acid biosynthesis of this parasite and is absent in humans, making it an ideal target for new antimalarial drugs.

Balamuthia mandrillaris is an under-reported, pathogenic free-living amoeba that causes Balamuthia amoebic encephalitis (BAE) and cutaneous skin infections. Although cutaneous infections are not typically lethal, BAE with or without cutaneous involvement is usually fatal. This is due to the lack of drugs that are both efficacious and can cross the blood-brain barrier.