Selection of targets for drug development against protozoan parasites.
Sequencing of parasite genomes opened the possibility to identify potential protein targets for drug development. Several protein targets have been found in the genome of Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. Bioinformatics analysis is an important tool for the identification of protein targets for drug development against parasitic diseases. In this review we comment about three protein targets, identified in parasite genomes, and discuss the main features that may guide future efforts for virtual screening initiatives.
de Azevedo
Walter Filgueira
WF
Faculdade de Biociências, Laboratório de Bioquímica Estrutural, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. walter@azevedolab.net
Soares
Milena Botelho Pereira
MB
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D015195:Drug Design; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012765:Shikimic Acid / Q000378:metabolism
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D012765:Shikimic Acid; D011683:Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase; D011494:Protein Kinases