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Transmembrane solute transport in the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium

Staines, HM; Moore, CM; Slavic, K; Krishna, S (2017) Transmembrane solute transport in the apicomplexan parasite Plasmodium. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 1 (6). pp. 553-561. ISSN 2397-8554 https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170097
SGUL Authors: Staines, Henry Michael

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Abstract

Apicomplexa are a large group of eukaryotic, single-celled parasites, with complex life cycles that occur within a wide range of different microenvironments. They include important human pathogens such as Plasmodium, the causal agent of malaria, and Toxoplasma, which causes toxoplasmosis most often in immunocompromised individuals. Despite environmental differences in their life cycles, these parasites retain the ability to obtain nutrients, remove waste products, and control ion balances. They achieve this flexibility by relying on proteins that can deliver and remove solutes. This reliance on transport proteins for essential functions makes these pathways excellent potential targets for drug development programmes. Transport proteins are frequently key mediators of drug resistance by their ability to remove drugs from their sites of action. The study of transport processes mediated by integral membrane proteins and, in particular, identification of their physiological functions and localisation, and differentiation from host orthologues has already established new validated drug targets. Our understanding of how apicomplexan parasites have adapted to changing environmental challenges has also increased through the study of their transporters. This brief introduction to membrane transporters of apicomplexans highlights recent discoveries focusing on Plasmodium and emphasises future directions.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: This is the accepted manuscript version of an article published in Emerging Topics in Life Sciences. The final version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170097
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Infection and Immunity Research Institute (INII)
Journal or Publication Title: Emerging Topics in Life Sciences
ISSN: 2397-8554
Dates:
DateEvent
22 December 2017Published
16 November 2017Accepted
Publisher License: Publisher's own licence
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
UNSPECIFIEDWellcome Trusthttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100004440
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/109717
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1042/ETLS20170097

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