CII research is highlighted in new feature on Wellcome Trust website

Posted on 12 January 2012

The pioneering work into combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) undertaken by the research group of Professor Deborah Smith, CII Professor of Molecular Parasitology and current Head of the Department of Biology at York, has been cited in a new feature on the Wellcome Trust's website.

High resolution structure of N-myristoyltransferase from Leishmania donovani (Jim Brannigan)

Entitled 'Neglected tropical diseases – a new handle on old problems', the article is written by distinguished science writer Michael Regnier and was previously printed in the December issue of the Trust's magazine, Wellcome News. A series of six weekly blog posts for the remainder of this month and into February are planned to follow, looking into some of the specific issues and topics around NTDs.

The feature highlights Professor Smith's research into using an enzyme common to several parasites, called N-myristoyltransferase, as a drug target, describing it as 'the most successful project [on NTDs] to date'. This research is now being used to develop therapies for two very serious diseases which affect millions world-wide: human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and the spectrum of infections which is human leishmaniasis. While the University of Dundee is working on an effective and affordable drug for trypanosomiasis, Professor Smith's Group at York are leading on developing drugs and vaccines for leishmaniasis.

A subsequent blog has been posted providing further details of the work of Professor Smith and her colleague Professor Kaye, Director of CII, in developing a new therapeutic vaccine for human leishmaniasis which could be used in combination with second-line drugs with the aim of increasing their effectiveness and reducing cost overall.

Notes to editors:

Feature available at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/2012/Features/WTVM054006.htm

Blog available at http://wellcometrust.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/neglected-tropical-diseases-developing-drugs/