The proposed research focuses on the C. parvum P-glycoprotein homologue (Pgh), Pgh is a member of the ABC class of transporters. Pgh is an important target to study in C. parvum as it is known to be refractory to most drugs tested to date. It is not known whether drug transport is the major contributory factor or actual resistance to all the many drugs tested to date.
The specific aims of this research are (1) complete the cloning and sequencing of the C. parvum pgh gene; (2) obtain expression of the Pgh transporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in such a way that a functional assay can be developed; and (3) use the yeast system as a functional assay of Pgh to test inhibitor activity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Small Research Grants (R03)
Project #
1R03AI041351-01
Application #
2005880
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZAI1-PSS-A (J1))
Project Start
1997-06-01
Project End
2000-05-31
Budget Start
1997-06-01
Budget End
1998-05-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Columbia University (N.Y.)
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
167204994
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10032
Zapata, Fernando; Perkins, Margaret E; Riojas, Ynolde A et al. (2002) The Cryptosporidium parvum ABC protein family. Mol Biochem Parasitol 120:157-61
Perkins, M E; Riojas, Y A; Wu, T W et al. (1999) CpABC, a Cryptosporidium parvum ATP-binding cassette protein at the host-parasite boundary in intracellular stages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 96:5734-9
Perkins, M E; Wu, T W; Le Blancq, S M (1998) Cyclosporin analogs inhibit in vitro growth of Cryptosporidium parvum. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 42:843-8