Summary

The University of California, San Diego received a $240,000 Project Grant award dated July 14, 2026, from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855). The award supports research investigating the parasite proteasome as a novel antimicrobial target for treating cryptosporidiosis, a severe diarrheal disease caused by Cryptosporidium parvum that poses significant threats to children and immunocompromised populations. The project will deliver two primary outputs: (1) production and purification of active, recombinant Cryptosporidium parvum 20S proteasome (CP20S) using a baculovirus-insect cell expression system to provide a scalable source for drug screening and biochemical characterization, and (2) identification of potent and selective proteasome inhibitors through high-throughput screening of approximately 1,000 compounds, with counterscreening against human proteasomes and evaluation in advanced cellular models including human intestinal epithelial cells and enteroid cultures.

Upon successful completion by the June 30, 2028 ultimate completion date, this research will validate the proteasome as a viable drug target and deliver well-characterized lead compounds that may form the basis for a new class of anti-parasitic agents. The project addresses a critical therapeutic gap, as current treatment for cryptosporidiosis is limited to a single FDA-approved drug with inconsistent efficacy.