Understanding the cross-talk between SUMOylation and oxidative stress in Plasmodium falciparum

Abstract

Malaria is a devastating disease in the tropics which includes the sub-Sahara region in Africa as well as the Amazon region of Brazil. Until now a potent vaccine is not available and therefore the treatment of malaria is solely dependent on chemotherapy. Currently the treatment is based on Arteminsin combined therapies (ACT), however first resistance are already occurring in Thailand. This situation accelerates the necessity of novel drugs with new pharmaceutical targets for efficient treatment. In this context it became apparent that SUMOlation of proteins might have a protective role in oxidative stress mediation. In this project we would like to focus on the SUMOlation process during the presence of oxidative stress mediated by parasite proliferation in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient erythrocytes.