Structure of the protective nematode protease complex H-gal-GP and its conservation across roundworm parasites.

Roundworm parasite infections are a major cause of human and livestock disease worldwide and a threat to global food security. Disease control currently relies on anthelmintic drugs to which roundworms are becoming increasingly resistant. An alternative approach is control by vaccination and 'hidden antigens', components of the worm gut not encountered by the infected host, have been exploited to produce Barbervax, the first commercial vaccine for a gut dwelling nematode of any host.

X-ray and cryo-EM structures of inhibitor-bound cytochrome complexes for structure-based drug discovery.

Cytochrome , a dimeric multi-subunit electron-transport protein embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane, is a major drug target for the treatment and prevention of malaria and toxoplasmosis. Structural studies of cytochrome from mammalian homologues co-crystallized with lead compounds have underpinned structure-based drug design to develop compounds with higher potency and selectivity. However, owing to the limited amount of cytochrome that may be available from parasites, all efforts have been focused on homologous cytochrome complexes from mammalian species, which has resulted in the failure of some drug candidates owing to toxicity in the host.