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
- 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
- Ayaka Omoda
- Research Fellow
- Prashar Cherish
- Research Fellow
- Ryuichi Yano
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
- Plazolles et al. PLoS Biol 2025; 23(5): e3002938.
- Bundutidi et al. Commun Biol 2025; 8(1): 187.
- Fukumoto et al. Commun Biol 2025; 8(1): 142.
- Sakura et al. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10(12): 4115-4126.
- Adolph et al. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10(10): 3496-3515.