Philip Rosenthal, MD

Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Research Description: 

We have three main areas of interest, all involving malaria, one of the most important infections of humans. First, we study the basic biology of malaria parasites, including the biochemical properties and biological roles of parasite proteases and mechanisms of action of novel antimalarial agents. Second, in collaboration with industry and academic groups, we are pursuing drug discovery, evaluating protease inhibitors, oxaboroles, and other compounds as potential antimalarial drugs. Third, we study malaria in Africa, with translational and laboratory studies at UCSF and in Uganda and Burkina Faso evaluating antimalarial drug efficacy and resistance, the molecular epidemiology of malaria, the roles of host and parasite genetic polymorphisms in treatment outcomes, antimalarial pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and related areas. Finally, a new area of interest is using genetic tools to characterize causes of febrile illness in African children. In other activities, Dr. Rosenthal is Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Chair, Scientific Advisory Committee, WorldWide Antimalarial Resistance Network; Member, Scientific Board, Infectious Diseases Data Observatory; and a member of the World Health Organization Technical Expert Group on Malaria Chemotherapy.

Primary Thematic Area: 
Virology & Microbial Pathogenesis
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Immunology
Research Summary: 
We study malaria, including: a) translational studies of drug efficacy and resistance; b) drug discovery and mechanisms of action of novel compounds; and c) basic biology of malaria parasites.

Websites

Featured Publications: 

Impact of intermittent preventive treatment with dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine on malaria in Ugandan schoolchildren: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

Nankabirwa JI, Wandera B, Amuge P, Kiwanuka N, Dorsey G, Rosenthal PJ, Brooker SJ, Staedke SG, Kamya MR

Antimalarial Benzoxaboroles Target Plasmodium falciparum Leucyl-tRNA Synthetase.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

Sonoiki E, Palencia A, Guo D, Ahyong V, Dong C, Li X, Hernandez VS, Zhang YK, Choi W, Gut J, Legac J, Cooper R, Alley MR, Freund YR, DeRisi J, Cusack S, Rosenthal PJ

Artesunate/Amodiaquine Versus Artemether/Lumefantrine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Uganda: A Randomized Trial.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Yeka A, Kigozi R, Conrad MD, Lugemwa M, Okui P, Katureebe C, Belay K, Kapella BK, Chang MA, Kamya MR, Staedke SG, Dorsey G, Rosenthal PJ

Lack of Artemisinin Resistance in Plasmodium falciparum in Uganda Based on Parasitological and Molecular Assays.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

Cooper RA, Conrad MD, Watson QD, Huezo SJ, Ninsiima H, Tumwebaze P, Nsobya SL, Rosenthal PJ

Impact of antimalarial treatment and chemoprevention on the drug sensitivity of malaria parasites isolated from ugandan children.

Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

Tumwebaze P, Conrad MD, Walakira A, LeClair N, Byaruhanga O, Nakazibwe C, Kozak B, Bloome J, Okiring J, Kakuru A, Bigira V, Kapisi J, Legac J, Gut J, Cooper RA, Kamya MR, Havlir DV, Dorsey G, Greenhouse B, Nsobya SL, Rosenthal PJ

Protective efficacy and safety of three antimalarial regimens for the prevention of malaria in young Ugandan children: a randomized controlled trial.

PLoS medicine

Bigira V, Kapisi J, Clark TD, Kinara S, Mwangwa F, Muhindo MK, Osterbauer B, Aweeka FT, Huang L, Achan J, Havlir DV, Rosenthal PJ, Kamya MR, Dorsey G

Comparative impacts over 5 years of artemisinin-based combination therapies on Plasmodium falciparum polymorphisms that modulate drug sensitivity in Ugandan children.

The Journal of infectious diseases

Conrad MD, LeClair N, Arinaitwe E, Wanzira H, Kakuru A, Bigira V, Muhindo M, Kamya MR, Tappero JW, Greenhouse B, Dorsey G, Rosenthal PJ