Targeting Parasitic DHFR: Montclair State Students Advance Antifolate Drug Discovery for Lymphatic Filariasis
Graduate students David Otu-Aboagye and Salma Kwarteng from Dr. Nina Goodey’s Lab presented an engaging talk on their research into novel drug targets for lymphatic filariasis
Posted in: Graduate, Research News, Students & Alumni
At the 2025 Theobald Smith Society Spring Symposium, graduate students David Otu-Aboagye and Salma Kwarteng presented an engaging talk on their research into novel drug targets for lymphatic filariasis—a neglected tropical disease that affects hundreds of millions globally.
The parasite responsible for most cases of lymphatic filariasis is Wuchereria bancrofti, a mosquito-transmitted nematode that causes severe swelling of limbs and tissue (elephantiasis) by invading the lymphatic system. Despite its enormous global health burden, treatment remains reliant on long-term preventive chemotherapy, which has significant compliance and efficacy challenges.
Otu-Aboagye and Kwarteng’s research focuses on W. bancrofti dihydrofolate reductase (Wb DHFR), an essential enzyme for DNA synthesis and cell division, and a known drug target in other organisms. The goal is to identify antifolate compounds that selectively inhibit Wb DHFR without affecting the human version of the enzyme.
The team expressed a His₆-tagged Wb DHFR construct in E. coli LOBSTR cells, optimized for purifying histidine-tagged proteins. Following IPTG induction, they used a two-step purification process—first with methotrexate-agarose resin, then with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Protein yield and purity were confirmed via Nanodrop and Bradford assays.