Ricerc@Sapienza

Our research interests focus on drug design to combat infectious diseases, focusing particularly on tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. 

For tuberculosis, the lab is dedicated to discovering small molecules that inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis, aiming to tackle drug-resistant strains and shorten treatment duration. We utilize structure-based drug design, leveraging protein crystallography and molecular docking to identify potential binding sites and develop compounds with high specificity and efficacy against TB.

Regarding malaria, the lab has a unique focus on designing transmission-blocking agents. These compounds are not aimed at treating symptoms within the human host but rather at interrupting the malaria parasite’s lifecycle within the mosquito vector. By targeting stages of the Plasmodium parasite that are crucial for transmission to the mosquito, the lab’s work contributes to strategies that curb malaria spread within populations, aiding global eradication efforts.