US 8,012,706 B2 · Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium, for evaluating Plasmodium virulence, and for screening new drugs employing the 3′UTR of Plasmodium SUB2 and the Plasmodium SUB2 serine protease

Abstract

Methods for regulating the serine protease of Plasmodium. Recombinant DNA constructs which express the Plasmodium serine protease, especially those comprising a sub2 3′UTR and coding segment which express a SUB2 a serine protease. Recombinant Plasmodium containing such constructs and exhibiting increased virulence. Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium strains by detecting the presence or amount of sub2 3′UTR sequences, sub2 mRNA or cDNA, SUB2 polypeptide expression, or other Plasmodium proteins, such as AMA1 or MSP1, which have been post-translationally modified by SUB2.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method for identifying a compound that decreases the virulence of a Plasmodium parasite comprising:

contacting an isolated Plasmodium SUB2 (subtilisin-like maturase) protein with a test compound and a substrate of SUB2 selected from the group consisting of Plasmodium AMA1 (Apical Membrane Antigen-1) and MSP1 (Merozoite Surface Protein 1),
determining the activity of Plasmodium SUB2 on the substrate in the absence and in the presence of the test compound,
selecting a test compound which decreases the activity of SUB2 on the substrate, and
evaluating the effect on Plasmodium virulence of the selected test compound in vivo, thus identifying a compound that decreases Plasmodium parasite virulence in vivo.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium, for evaluating Plasmodium virulence, and for screening new drugs employing the 3′UTR of Plasmodium SUB2 and the Plasmodium SUB2 serine protease

Life of this patent

Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium, for evaluating Plasmodium virulence, and for screening new drugs employing the 3′UTR of Plasmodium SUB2 and the Plasmodium SUB2 serine protease

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16