Abaza, S. (2022). Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part II: Parasite targets. Parasitologists United Journal, 15(1), 22-38. doi: 10.21608/PUJ.2022.129311.1160
Sherif Abaza. "Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part II: Parasite targets". Parasitologists United Journal, 15, 1, 2022, 22-38. doi: 10.21608/PUJ.2022.129311.1160
Abaza, S. (2022). 'Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part II: Parasite targets', Parasitologists United Journal, 15(1), pp. 22-38. doi: 10.21608/PUJ.2022.129311.1160
Abaza, S. Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part II: Parasite targets. Parasitologists United Journal, 2022; 15(1): 22-38. doi: 10.21608/PUJ.2022.129311.1160
Recent advances in identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases. Part II: Parasite targets
Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
Understanding the parasite biology on molecular basis is the starting point for identification of novel parasite drug targets. The interpretation of gene regulatory networks is a “blueprint” for discovery of new interactions among system biological events that lead to identification of novel potential drug targets and/or vaccine candidates. The aim of the present review is to simplify the molecular bases of the mandatory biological processes involved in the parasite survival, growth, replication, pathogenesis, and virulence. Growth and replication include nucleic acid synthesis, DNA replication and gene expression (topoisomerase, histone variants, and histone modification enzymes), and translation process for protein synthesis (initiation and elongation factors). Parasite survival includes signaling pathways (protein kinases, and protein lipidadtion), regulated cell death machinery, mitochondrial respiratory electron chain, and transmembrane transporters. Parasite pathogenesis and virulence include proteases, endogenous protease inhibitors (cysteine and serine protease inhibitors), heat shock proteins, glycoproteins, and tetraspanins. This publication is part II in a series of reviews dealing with identification of potential drug targets and development of novel drugs in parasitic diseases published in PUJ as part I[1].