purcc 2012 - University of the Pacific

Poster Session Abstracts
previously shown that this group of cysteine
protease inhibitors has potent inhibitory activity
against trichomonads protozoa. Our goal is to
identify potential new chemotherapies against
this important human parasite.
Characterization of a novel kinase in the
protozoal parasite Trichomonas vaginalis
Evan Kristiansen
Faculty Mentor: Kirkwood Land
Protein kinases are part of several important cell
signaling pathways. We seek to use protein
kinases as an potential drug target for the clinical
treatment of Trichomona vaginalis.
Trichomonas vaginalis is a protozoal parasite
and the causative agent of trichamoniasis, a
common sexually transmitted disease. While
there are treatment options for trichamoniasis,
these treatments are restricted to 5-
nitroimidazole derivaties. Metronidazole, known
by the name Flagyl, is the FDA approved
treatment for a Trichomonas infection. Five
percent of trichamoniasis cases cannot be treated
effectively with Metronidazole however, and so
the search for alternative therapies is essential.
Several challenges arise when considering the
treatment of a eukaryotic pathogen, its similarity
to our own cells make targeting this disease
difficult. We have discovered, in collaboration
with a university partner, a unique protein which
could act as a drug target. This class of enzyme,
a protein kinase, is often involved in cell
maintenance pathways and therefore is an
attractive target for inhibition of cell growth.
This enzyme, called the gatekeeper, has been
previously examined and purified from several
other eukaryotic parasites and the coding
sequence has been found in the genome of T.
vaginalis. We have been working to use this
genomic sequence to recombinantly express the
T.vaginalis Gatekeeper gene in E.coli.
premature death in companion animals.
Mosquitos are relatively understudied as a vector
for D. immitis and existing detection systems for
the presence of these parasites could be adapted
to study them in mosquitos. We plan to use a
variety of techniques to analzye mosquitoes and
to identify D. immitis in mosquitoes from the
San Joaquin Valley. This project can help us to
understand how mosquitoes ticks transmit this
parasite.
Use of a motion-based, novel computer
application for whole-plate screening of
drugs against small parasitic nematodes
Neal Patel, Tiffany Riley, Asma Patel, Raquel
O’Connor
Faculty Mentors: Kirkwood Land, Gregg
Jongeward
One of the major stumbling blocks toward
developing effective macrofilaricides has been
the lack of a high-throughput screening method
for candidate drugs and other chemical libraries.
Current methods utilize systems that measure
one well at a time and are time consuming and
often expensive. Recently, a new, low-cost and
simple visual imaging system to automate and
quantify screening entire plates based on parasite
movement was developed (called Worm Assay).
This system was first developed for analysis of
larger filarial nematodes such as Brugia malayi.
Whether this technology can be adapted for
analysis of smaller parasitic worms is unclear.
To address this, we have begun to adapt the
Worm Assay using C. elegans as a model
nematode for analyzing drugs in a high
throughput method. Conditions for successfully
culturing nematodes in suspension in 96-well
plates and for analyzing their motion in the
presence and absence of common anthelmintics
are underway. The successful use of the Worm
Assay with C. elegans should help to identify
potential new chemotherapies for a variety of
smaller parasitic nematodes.
Molecular Detection of Dog Heart Worm
in Mosquitoes in the San Joaquin Valley
Evan Kristiansen
Faculty Mentors: Kirkwood Land, Ryan Hill
Mosquitos and ticks are common vectors of
microbial diseases. Of particular interest to pet
owners is their ability to carry the common dog
heartworm Dirofilaria immits, which can cause
55