Molecular Infection Dynamics



Our Department collaborates with the Department of Exploratory Research for Drug Discovery to develop new screening systems targeting malaria parasites and identify lead candidates for drug development. Using a multifaceted approach that includes biochemistry, molecular biology, and structural biology, we focus on creating new antimalarial drugs that can treat, prevent, and stop the transmission of malaria.

Members

Professor
Ken Daniel Inaoka
Assistant Professor
Takaya Sakura
Research Fellow
Bundutidi Gloria Mavinga
Research Fellow
Tagod Mohammed Suliman Omer
Research Fellow
Hong Jing
Research Fellow
Kanoko Iki
Research Fellow
Masaharu Eriguchi
Research Fellow
Miyuki Kasai
Research Fellow
Minako Yoshida
Research Fellow
Ha Linh Manh
Research Fellow
Ryuichi Yano
Assistant
Kyoko Uchibori

Activities

We aim to comprehensively understand the mitochondrial energy metabolism of malaria parasites and the mechanisms behind their parasitic behavior. By developing and implementing new evaluation systems, we search for compounds with new chemical structures and mechanisms of action in order to generate novel lead compounds for antimalarial drug development from the stand point of both basic and applied sciences.

Our research is primarily supported by Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund.

Recent main research achievement

  1. Miyazaki et al. Commun Biol 2023; 6(1): 713.
  2. Hidayati et al. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2023; 21: 40-50
  3. Komatsuya et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15(7): 903.
  4. Waluyo et al. Parasitol Int 2021; 85: 102432.
  5. Acharjee et al. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22(15): 7830.

Achievement list