Trypanosoma brucei glycogen synthase kinase-3, a target for anti-trypanosomal drug development: a public-private partnership to identify novel leads.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), expresses two proteins with homology to human glycogen synthase kinase 3β (HsGSK-3) designated TbruGSK-3 short and TbruGSK-3 long. TbruGSK-3 short has previously been validated as a potential drug target and since this enzyme has also been pursued as a human drug target, a large number of inhibitors are available for screening against the parasite enzyme. A collaborative industrial/academic partnership facilitated by the World Health Organisation Tropical Diseases Research division (WHO TDR) was initiated to stimulate research aimed at identifying new drugs for treating HAT.

Methodology/principal findings

A subset of over 16,000 inhibitors of HsGSK-3 β from the Pfizer compound collecti

SUBMITTER: Oduor RO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3071371 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature