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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20250407T201000Z
UID:1743699488447@thor.lawrence.edu
CATEGORIES:Speakers
DTSTART:20250407T201000Z
DTEND:20250407T212000Z
SUMMARY:Recent Advances In Biology Speaker - Claudia Rohr `19
CONTACT:
 Biology Department
ORGANIZER;CN="Biology RABLS Talk":
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DESCRIPTION:
 Speaker Claudia Rohr (`19) will give a talk titled "Academic 
 drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases: 
 a long TRP from bench to field"\n
 \n
 Abstract: The drug praziquantel (PZQ) has served 
 as the long-standing treatment of many human and 
 veterinary diseases caused by parasitic flatworms, 
 such as blood, lung, and liver flukes, and various 
 tapeworm infections. Despite clinical usage spanning 
 over 4 decades, the parasite target of PZQ has 
 long remained unknown. In 2019, a flatworm transient 
 receptor potential ion channel (TRPMPZQ) was identified 
 as a target for PZQ. Following this discovery, 
 a predicted binding pose and associated binding 
 pocket in schistosomes was determined. Investigation 
 into natural sequence variation in the binding 
 pocket of TRPMPZQ between species revealed the 
 molecular basis for the unique drug sensitivity 
 seen in some, but not all, parasites. Despite 
 a high level of sequence conservation, the presence 
 of two key variant residues were found to underpin 
 the particular sensitivity of certain parasites 
 to PZQ. The realization of the importance of this 
 variation in the target allows for two primary 
 avenues of research. First, we can design novel 
 compounds that accommodate the unique binding 
 pocket architectures identified in difficult to 
 treat parasite species. Second, we can look at 
 natural variation within parasite populations, 
 providing a means of surveillance for potential 
 drug resistance. Interrogation of TRPMPZQ both 
 between species and within species populations 
 is critical for both the development of new therapies 
 and the successful treatment of diseases that 
 impact millions of people worldwide.\n\n

LOCATION:Wriston Auditorium
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