Houston Daily

A University of Houston professor has been awarded nearly $4 million by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to lead research aimed at developing treatments for Cryptosporidium infections. These infections, caused by waterborne protozoan parasites, are a significant health threat worldwide, particularly for young children and immunocompromised adults.

Each year, Cryptosporidium parasites, especially C. hominis and C. parvum, are responsible for the deaths of over 50,000 children under five due to severe diarrhea. They are recognized as the second leading cause of diarrhea-related deaths after rotavirus. The parasites can also be fatal for adults with weakened immune systems.

There is currently no effective treatment or vaccine available for Cryptosporidium infections. In addition to their natural threat, these parasites are classified as a Class B bioterrorism agent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because they could potentially be introduced into water supplies.

Gregory Cuny, Joseph P. & Shirley Shipman Buckley Endowed Professor of Drug Discovery at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, will head a multi-institutional team working to develop new drugs for cryptosporidiosis. The team’s focus is on targeting an essential enzyme called CDPK1 (Calcium dependent protein kinase 1), which is necessary for the parasite’s survival. Research indicates that silencing this enzyme significantly reduces parasite growth.

“Our long-term goal is to identify clinical candidates that can be advanced in our effort to establish CDPK1 as a validated drug target for treatment of Cryptosporidium-induced infections,” said Cuny.

The research team aims to design drug candidates that remain in the body longer through enterohepatic recycling, meaning they are absorbed by the liver and sent back to the intestine rather than being eliminated quickly. This approach could help concentrate treatment where it is most needed, in the gastrointestinal tract where Cryptosporidium infections occur.

“CDPK1 has structural features that present opportunities for selective inhibitor design targeting the parasite kinase enzyme without harming similar human enzymes,” said Cuny. “Demonstrating GI-targeting would also be highly significant to drug design strategies for other GI conditions, such as colonic cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases.”

The project team includes Ming Hu and Kevin Garey from the University of Houston, Wesley Van Voorhis from the University of Washington, and Saul Tzipori from Tufts University.