Microbiology and Immunology Graduate Program
B.V.Sc, RAGACOVAS, Pondicherry
M.V.Sc, Avian Diseases, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, U.P

Email: praveen.balabaskarannina@drexel.edu

Advisor: Dr. Akhil Vaidya

Thesis Research Summary

Investigators working in Dr Vaidya's laboratory focus on understanding the basic molecular function of malaria parasites in order to develop new antimalarial drugs. The project I am working on seeks to investigate the involvement of metabolic enzymes in the energy metabolism of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, using recently developed genetic knock-out methods. Initially, I am focussed on succinate dehydrogenase, an important component of both the TCA cycle and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. These pathways contribute to oxidative phosphorylation, which is the major source of energy in most eukaryotic organisms. However, evidence to date indicates that oxidative phosphorylation is not important in malaria parasites, at least in the erythrocytic stages. Furthermore, we have shown that, in the erythrocytic stages, electron transport is required primarily to recycle the pyrimidine biosynthesis enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and not for the overall energy metabolism.