Infectious diseases caused by parasites are a major threat for the entire mankind, especially
in the tropics. More than 1 billion people world-wide are directly exposed to tropical …

Vitamin B6 is an essential cofactor for more than 100 enzymatic reactions. Mammalian cells
are unable to synthesize vitamin B6 de novo, whereas bacteria, plants, fungi, and as shown …

Helminths are the largest and most complex pathogens to invade and live within the human
body. Since they are not able to outpace the immune system by rapid antigen variation or …

RNA and DNA aptamers developed by an in vitro selection process, Systematic Evolution of
Ligands by EXponential enrichment (SELEX), comprise a novel class of high‐affinity and …

SARS-CoV-2 papain-like protease (PLpro) covers multiple functions. Beside the cysteine-protease
activity, facilitating cleavage of the viral polypeptide chain, PLpro has the additional …

More than 30 years ago the potent ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor difluoromethylornithine
(DFMO) was designed as new anticancer drug. Its efficacy was not as expected since the …

Background Besides the well-accepted role in lipid metabolism, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
also seems to participate in host immune response against infectious diseases. Objective…

The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum depends primarily on nutrient sources from its
human host. Most compounds, such as glucose, purines, amino acids, as well as cofactors …

Placental malaria (PM) is associated with severe inflammation leading to abortion, preterm
delivery, and intrauterine growth restriction. Innate immunity responses play critical roles, but …

Lipoic acid is an essential cofactor of α‐keto acid dehydrogenase complexes (KADHCs). This
study shows that Plasmodium falciparum possesses two distinct lipoylation pathways that …