A. R. Odom John

Cooperativity mediates drug resistance and metabolism in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites

This study identifies GAPDH cooperativity as a key factor in FSM resistance and MEP pathway regulation in Plasmodium falciparum.

Enzymatic and structural characterization of HAD5, an essential phosphomannomutase of malaria parasites

This study characterizes HAD5, a phosphomannomutase essential for GPI anchor biosynthesis in malaria parasites, showing its role in parasite egress and reinvasion and identifying a specific inhibitor.

Red Blood Cells Function as DNA Sensors

The paper shows red blood cells detect and bind DNA, triggering immune responses during infections.

Structure-guided microbial targeting of antistaphylococcal prodrugs

This study identifies microbial esterases in Staphylococcus aureus and determines their substrate specificities to guide the design of serum esterase-resistant antistaphylococcal prodrugs.

Antimicrobial prodrug activation by the staphylococcal glyoxalase GloB

This study identifies GloB as a bacterial enzyme that activates carboxy ester prodrugs, suggesting its potential for developing targeted prodrug therapies against staphylococcal species.

Targeting host glycolysis as a strategy for antimalarial development.

The paper investigates enolase inhibitors' effects on erythrocytes and their implications for antimalarial therapy by examining red blood cell homeostasis and parasite growth.

The malaria metabolite HMBPP does not trigger erythrocyte terpene production

The paper investigates whether the malarial metabolite HMBPP increases erythrocyte -pinene levels, finding no significant change despite previous suggestions.

Potent, specific MEPicides for treatment of zoonotic staphylococci

This paper identifies DXR as a druggable target for zoonotic staphylococci and develops potent prodrug inhibitors (MEPicides) that bypass transporter requirements.

Protein prenylation and Hsp40 in thermotolerance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites

This study identifies farnesylation of HSP40 as essential for thermotolerance and vesicular trafficking in Plasmodium falciparum.

Suppression of drug resistance reveals a genetic mechanism of metabolic plasticity in malaria parasites

The paper identifies a genetic mechanism of metabolic plasticity in malaria parasites by uncovering HAD2 as a phosphatase regulating drug resistance and PFK9 as a suppressor of resistance.