Postdoctoral position in Malaria Drug Development

Institut Pasteur, France

Updated: about 12 hours ago
Deadline: ;

Development of potent PLA2 inhibitors to target PRDX6, a novel host based malaria drug target

Position
A 2-year postdoctoral position is available in the Unité de Biologie de Plasmodium et Vaccins (BPV), INSERM U1347, Institut Pasteur led by Chetan Chitnis for an ANR-funded malaria drug development project in collaboration with INSERM U1177, Université de Lille and Institut Pasteur de Lille.

Project
Malaria remains a major public health problem that is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality primarily in resource poor countries. With the rise of resistance to frontline anti-malaria drugs such as artemisinin, there is an urgent need to develop next generation drugs for malaria. Our laboratory has identified a novel host based phospholipase A2 enzyme, peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6-PLA2) that is imported and used by malaria parasites for lipid damage repair caused by oxidative stress during intra-erythrocytic parasite growth (Cell Reports (2022) 39(11):110923). PLA2 inhibitors that target PRDX6-PLA2 block intraerythrocytic blood stage growth. This collaborative project with Université de Lille and Institut Pasteur de Lille will develop and use high throughput assays to identify novel inhibitors that target the host PLA2 to block blood stage parasite growth and will explore the potential of such inhibitors for development as novel host-directed drugs for malaria.  The project will also study the mechanism of action of such inhibitors.

Profile:

Candidates with a PhD in biochemistry, cell biology or related field and with passionate interest in working on infectious diseases to both understand pathogen biology and develop new tools for treatment should apply. Experience in malaria and/or drug development would be an asset but is not essential. Please send a letter of interest, CV and names of at least 2 references to the following email address: [email protected] .


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