Research Projects

Theileriosis is a major livestock infectious disease affecting animals in tropical and subtropical countries, causing severe morbidity and death. In India, the annual economic loss of $1295 million is due to T. annulata infection. The effectiveness of the single antitheilerial drug, buparvaquone (BPQ), is being questioned due to drug resistance. To ensure effective control and eradication operations, it is crucial to find novel antitheilerial drug targets. Theileria parasites use epigenetic machinery to regulate crucial activities of the parasitic life cycle, such as persistence and pathogenicity during asexual reproduction. The parasite's intraleukocyte development (schizont stage) is responsible for most disease symptoms. The parasite's ability to adapt to changing host conditions may be intricately linked to varied gene expression of a number of proteins. PI's understanding of gene expression control in Theileria parasites is still in its infancy, and our knowledge of chromatin in transcriptional regulation and the processes behind changes in chromatin structure is incomplete. The primary goals of this project are to characterize the molecular determinants controlling chromatin organization and gene regulation in this pathogen, elucidate their importance in parasite development, virulence, and sexual differentiation, and identify novel pathways to kill the parasite. The planned study will provide significant new insights into parasite-specific protein complexes and their significance in chromatin structure and parasite life, as well as starting points for innovative approaches in Theileria research and treatment.