Hashem Lab

Research focus

ERC Starting Grant · 2017

Structural differences in mRNA translation machineries between eukaryotic pathogens and their mammalian hosts

mRNA translation consists on translating the genetic code to proteins by the ribosome that is universally conserved in all cells. However, its structure presents significant differences between bacteria and eukaryotes. Partly because of these differences, the bacterial ribosome can be targeted specifically by a number of antibiotics without affecting the eukaryotic host cells. However, the conservation of the ribosome among eukaryotes complicates the search for specific drugs against eukaryotic pathogens such as certain protozoa like plasmodium and kinetoplastids. Our work along with other studies demonstrates the existence of significant structural differences between ribosomes of protozoa…

From the public funding record at EU CORDIS. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.