Human babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in the US. babesiosis is a potentially life- threatening disease caused by apicomplexan piroplasm parasites that infect red blood cells (RBCs). In the U.S., babesiosis is primarily caused by Babesia microti (Bm), with some infections attributed to B. duncani (Bd) or a B. divergens-like strain MO1 (MO1). New treatments capable of rapid and complete clearance of parasites during human babesiosis are urgently needed. Tafenoquine (TQ) is a new 8- aminoquinoline drug for the prevention of relapse from liver hypnozoites of Plasmodium vivax. The goal of the current proposal is to complete preclinical animal studies to determine if TQ can be repurposed for human babesiosis; particularly for those patients who are immunocompromised for whom short-term or rapidly effective treatment options do not currently exist. The application of tafenoquine as a single dose therapy for immunocompromised patients with babesiosis would be a revolutionary development in our ability to treat babesiosis.
In aim 1 we will test they hypothesis that tafenoquine leads to a radical cure for experimental babesiosis meaning that it eliminates parasites in immune-compromised mice.
In aim 2 we will examine the mechanism of action of tafenoquine against Babesia.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of the proposal is to complete preclinical animal studies to determine if Tafenoquine can be repurposed for human babesiosis; particularly for those patients who are immunocompromised for whom short-term or rapidly effective treatment options do not currently exist. We will also examine the mechanism of action of Tafenoquine for Babesia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21AI142523-02
Application #
9822953
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
O'Neil, Michael T
Project Start
2018-11-14
Project End
2020-10-31
Budget Start
2019-11-01
Budget End
2020-10-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2020
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York Medical College
Department
Microbiology/Immun/Virology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041907486
City
Valhalla
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10595