A Nigerian-led research team at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has recorded a landmark achievement in global malaria research, successfully determining and depositing the first-ever crystal structure of Plasmodium falciparum transketolase bound to an inhibitor in the international Protein Data Bank.
The breakthrough marks the first structural biology entry in the Protein Data Bank authored entirely by Nigerian researchers, signaling a significant leap in the country’s scientific footprint on the global stage.
The study, led by Dr. Olatomide Fadare and his multidisciplinary team, focused on transketolase—an essential enzyme in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite species responsible for the majority of malaria-related deaths worldwide. By resolving the three-dimensional crystal structure of the enzyme while bound to a specific inhibitor, the team has provided an atomic-level blueprint that could accelerate the rational design of next-generation antimalarial drugs.
Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa. With increasing reports of resistance to frontline treatments, particularly artemisinin-based combination therapies, scientists have intensified efforts to identify new drug targets and novel inhibitory compounds. Structural biology plays a critical role in this process by revealing how potential drugs interact with parasite proteins at the molecular level.
By depositing the structure in the Protein Data Bank—a globally accessible repository used by researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and academic institutions—the OAU team has made their findings immediately available to scientists worldwide. This ensures that the structural data can be used to guide structure-based drug design, computational modeling, and further biochemical investigations aimed at disabling the parasite’s metabolic pathways.
Transketolase is a key enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is crucial for the parasite’s survival and proliferation within human red blood cells. Targeting this enzyme presents a promising strategy for disrupting parasite metabolism without harming human host cells. The availability of its inhibitor-bound structure provides insight into how small molecules can effectively block its activity, paving the way for more selective and potent antimalarial compounds.
Beyond its scientific implications, the achievement represents a broader statement about Nigeria’s growing capacity in advanced research techniques such as X-ray crystallography and structural bioinformatics. For decades, high-resolution protein structure determination has largely been dominated by institutions in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. The successful execution and authorship of this work entirely by Nigerian scientists underscores the expanding research infrastructure and expertise within the country.
Experts note that the impact of this milestone extends beyond malaria research. Structural data deposited in the Protein Data Bank form the foundation for vaccine development, enzyme engineering, and pharmaceutical innovation across numerous disease areas. As such, this accomplishment not only strengthens Nigeria’s contribution to infectious disease research but also enhances its visibility in the global scientific community.
With malaria continuing to claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually—disproportionately affecting African nations—the timing of this breakthrough is particularly significant. As resistance threatens existing therapies, the need for new drug scaffolds and validated molecular targets has never been more urgent.
The OAU team’s work offers precisely that: a validated structural framework that could shorten the pathway from laboratory discovery to clinical application. If leveraged effectively, this development could help shape the next generation of antimalarial treatments and reinforce Africa’s role not just as a site of disease burden, but as a center of scientific innovation and solution-driven research.
