Homework on article :Targeting Plasmodium phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase

to eliminate malaria

Presented by: KEITA Mariam

What is/ are the target gene(s) of therapeutic
interest used in this article?

This is the pfpi4k gene wich codes for the pi4k

protein.
What are the parasitic stages that express this/these target gene(s)?
Justify your answer(1/2)

There are the hepatic and blood stages.

Justification: the pfpi4k gene encodes the pi4k protein wich is the
drug target of the antimalarial compounds mentioned in the article,
including imidazopyrazines.These compouds exert a powerful
inhibitory activity on the development of the parasite at the hepatic
stage. This has been demonstrated through a cell test. Moreover,
they reduce the viability and the formation of gametes by 60%
What are the parasitic stages that express this/these target
gene(s)? Justify your answer (2/2)
Gametes are one of the bloo-stage forms of the parasite.
What drugs target the parasite?

These are compounds imidazopyrazine,

quinoxaline, atovaquone , primaquine  and
dihydroartémisinine.
Which drugs target the gene of therapeutic
interest?

These are the compounds: KDU691, KAI407,

KAI715, BQR695
How the authors ensured the specificity of the
drugs used as targets?
The authors ensured drug specificity based on direct
genetics.They cloned from lines resistant to the two
imidazopyrazine compounds KAI407, KAI715. For each
clone the genomic differences from the parent were
identified using a genome-tiling network. And the 5
clones shared the alterations of a single gene.
Is it specific to the different drugs used? If yes
justify

No, because chronic inhibition of PI4K effects in

humans causes immunisuppressive effects and
could preclude long-term prophylaxis. To this we
can add the emergence of resistant parasites
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!!!