Mitochondria as drug target : From parasites to virus

Parasites have developed a variety of physiological functions necessary for their survival within the specialized environment of the host. Using metabolic systems that are very different from those of the host, they can adapt to low oxygen tension present within the host animals. Most parasites do not use the oxygen available within the host to generate ATP even they reside oxygen rich circumstance such as blood, but rather employ systems anaerobic metabolic pathways. In addition, all parasites have a life cycle. In many cases, the parasite employs aerobic metabolism during their free-living stage outside the host. In such systems, parasite mitochondria play diverse roles. In particular, dynamic changes in the morphology and components of the mitochondria during the life cycle are very interesting elements of biological processes such as developmental control and environmental adaptation. As mitochondrial function is essential for the survival of the parasites, it should be promising target of chemotherapy. Anti-malarial atovaquone, which targets cytochrome b of parasite mitochondrial respiratory chain, is a well known example.   
 In this talk, uniqueness of parasite respiratory chains and discovery of anti-COVID-19 candidate as well as anti-malarial compound, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) will be presented.