Novel Drug Design Strategies for the Treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis

Background Information
Trypanosoma brucei
The life cycle and pathogenesis of T. brucei
Glycolysis
Glycolysis, the sole source of energy production in T. brucei, is a chemotherapeutic target
Evolution T. brucei & PFK

The evolutionary histories of T. brucei and PFK-1 are key to the drug design strategy
PFK Structural Analysis
Structural Features
T. brucei and human PFK-1 have significant structural differences.
Experimental Methods
X-ray crystallography and protein structure models were used to compare T. brucei and human PFK
Drug Design and Future Studies
Compounds conatining lead are being investigated as inhibitors of T.brucei PFK

 

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