Modification of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A from Plasmodium vivax by a truncated deoxyhypusine synthase from Plasmodium falciparum: An enzyme with dual enzymatic properties.

The increasing resistance of the malaria parasites enforces alternative directions in finding new drug targets. Present findings from the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, causing tertiary malaria, suggest eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) to be a promising target for the treatment of malaria. Previously we presented the 162 amino acid sequence of eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A) from Plasmodium vivax.

Spermidine metabolism in parasitic protozoa--a comparison to the situation in prokaryotes, viruses, plants and fungi.

Targeting polyamines of parasitic protozoa in chemotherapy has attracted attention because polyamines might reveal novel drug targets for antiparasite therapies (Müller et al. 2001). The biological function of the triamine spermidine in parasitic protozoa has not been studied in great detail although the results obtained mainly imply three different functions, i.