trans

FURTHER READING 431
analysis, which can lead to the rational design
of selective inhibitors. In this ‘post-genomic’
era there are already major research efforts for
several of the main parasites to carry out highthroughput
protein-structure determination.
These structures should prove to be a fruitful
source for the development of novel antiparasitic
agents. Development of these drugs is
unlikely to be led by the pharmaceutical industry,
which usually does not invest in neglected
diseases of poor countries. Nonetheless, large
philanthropic organizations and public and
parapublic national and international organisations
could make investments to develop new
anti-parasitic agents, and initiatives in that direction,
although still modest in scale, are tangible.
With the development of drug resistance and
the limited numbers of drugs available, it is
indeed necessary that such efforts be encouraged
in our fight against parasitic diseases.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
MO is a CIHR investigator and a Burroughs
Wellcome Fund Scholar in molecular parasitology.
Work on drug resistance in the MO lab is
supported by the CIHR and the Wellcome Trust.
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