1. Chemotherapy of parasitic diseases.
2. Ion homeostasis mechanisms in trypanosomatids and malaria parasites.
3. Signaling mechanisms involved in invasion of host cells by intracellular parasites and in their differentiation.
4. Characterization of acidocalcisomes.

Major research interests involve the rational approach to chemotherapeutic control of parasitic infections. The main, basic strategy is to search for metabolic pathways in parasites that may be essential for survival of the parasites but may not find an equivalent counterpart in the host. Thus, one could look for specific inhibitors of such metabolic activities as possible means of controlling the parasites without damaging the hosts.

Recent results from our laboratory include: (1) the discovery of a novel organelle in trypanosomatids that we later identified in Apicomplexan parasites, other unicellular eukaryotes, bacteria, and human platelets that we named the acidocalcisome, because it is acidic and contains a high calcium concentration. This organelle is conserved from bacteria to man; (2) the finding that bisphosphonates, drugs approved for use in humans against osteoporosis and other bone diseases, are effective antiparasitic agents and offer a potential new route to chemotherapy of parasitic diseases; and (3) the discovery that human platelet dense granules possess a high concentration of polyphosphate, being similar to acidocalcisomes, and that polyphosphate is released from platelets after thrombin stimulation and has a physiological role in coagulation and fibrinolysis.

The support that Georgia, through the Georgia Research Alliance, provides to research and education. The possibility of interaction with an outstanding group of scientists at the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and the UGA Department of Cellular Biology. The resources provided by GRA to support our research.