EmmanuelBalogunFulbright Visiting Scholar

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria

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I am an early-career Scientist with research focus on Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology, and special interest on rational drug discovery for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). I obtained BSc (2001) and MSc (2005) degrees in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. After that I passed the examination for the award of a Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship and the entrance examinations for the University of Tokyo (UT), Japan for my doctoral studies at the Graduate School of Medicine, UT (2007‐2011).

During my PhD, I established a system for large-scale purification of African trypanosomes glycerol kinase and participated to determine the structure of trypanosomes alternative oxidase. In 2012, I was selected for a postdoctoral fellowship by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and utilized the grant to determine the structure of African trypanosomes glycerol kinase (ATGK) and elucidated its reaction mechanism. I returned to my Faculty position in ABU as a lecturer (2016), and was recently selected as a Future Leaders- Africa Independent Research (FLAIR) fellow by The Royal Society, UK.

I am presently hosted by Professor James McKerrow at UCSD as a Fulbright Visiting Scholar to screen for inhibitors of ATGK from the available combinatorial libraries. As I am broadly interested in the development of new interventions for Africa‐endemic diseases, I also collaborate with Professors Larissa Podust, Conor Caffrey, and Anjan Debnath on other NTDs. I hope to utlize this opportunity to establish a lasting research linkage between my home institution, ABU and CDIPD/UCSD.

PUBLICATIONS

Discovery of trypanocidal coumarins with dual inhibition of both the glycerol kinase and alternative oxidase of Trypanosoma brucei brucei. FASEB J. 2019 Nov;33(11):13002-13013. doi: 10.1096/fj.201901342R. Epub 2019 Sep 16. Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Tsuge C, May B, Sato T, Kido Y, Nara T, Aoki T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Matsuoka S, Michels PAM, Watanabe YI, Moore AL, Harada S, Kita K.

Impact of training of mothers, drug shop attendants and voluntary health workers on effective diagnosis and treatment of malaria in Lagos, Nigeria. Trop Parasitol. 2019 Jan-Jun;9(1):36-44. doi: 10.4103/tp.TP_36_18. Epub 2019 May 22. Ajibaye O, Balogun EO, Olukosi YA, Orok BA, Oyebola KM, Iwalokun BA, Aina OO, Shittu O, Adeneye AK, Ojewunmi OO, Kita K, Awolola ST.

Pathological and molecular diagnosis of canine babesiosis in Nigeria: A case report. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports. 2018 Dec;14:150-154. doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.10.004. Epub 2018 Oct 24. No abstract available. Abalaka SE, Ubah SA, Umeakuana PU, Idoko IS, Sani NA, Obeta SS, Hikosaka K, Inaoka DK, Kita K, Watanabe YI, Balogun EO.

Insights into the ubiquinol/dioxygen binding and proton relay pathways of the alternative oxidase. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg. 2019 May 1;1860(5):375-382. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.03.008. Epub 2019 Mar 22. Shiba T, Inaoka DK, Takahashi G, Tsuge C, Kido Y, Young L, Ueda S, Balogun EO, Nara T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Saimoto H, Harada S, Moore AL, Kita K.

Alternative oxidase inhibitors: Mitochondrion-targeting as a strategy for new drugs against pathogenic parasites and fungi. Med Res Rev. 2019 Sep;39(5):1553-1602. doi: 10.1002/med.21560. Epub 2019 Jan 29. Review. Ebiloma GU, Balogun EO, Cueto-Díaz EJ, de Koning HP, Dardonville C.

Impact of Single Dose Praziquantel Treatment on Schistosoma haematobium Infection among School Children in an Endemic Nigerian Community. Korean J Parasitol. 2018 Dec;56(6):577-581. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.577. Epub 2018 Dec 31. Adewale B, Mafe MA, Sulyman MA, Idowu ET, Ajayi MB, Akande DO, Mckerrow JH, Balogun EO.

SAR of 4-Alkoxybenzoic Acid Inhibitors of the Trypanosome Alternative Oxidase. ACS Med Chem Lett. 2018 Jul 31;9(9):923-928. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.8b00282. eCollection 2018 Sep 13. Meco-Navas A, Ebiloma GU, Martín-Domínguez A, Martínez-Benayas I, Cueto-Díaz EJ, Alhejely AS, Balogun EO, Saito M, Matsui M, Arai N, Shiba T, Harada S, de Koning HP, Dardonville C.

Inhibition of trypanosome alternative oxidase without its N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal (΁EMTS-TAO) by cationic and non-cationic 4-hydroxybenzoate and 4-alkoxybenzaldehyde derivatives active against T. brucei and T. congolense. Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Apr 25;150:385-402. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.02.075. Epub 2018 Feb 26. Ebiloma GU, Ayuga TD, Balogun EO, Gil LA, Donachie A, Kaiser M, Herraiz T, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Harada S, Kita K, de Koning HP, Dardonville C.

Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Response and Genetic Diversity in Merozoite Surface Protein 2 of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates from Nigeria. Adv Biomed Res. 2017 Nov 10;6:142. doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.192631. eCollection 2017. Ajibaye O, Osuntoki AA, Ebuehi AO, Iwalokun BA, Balogun EO, Egbuna KN.

Biochemical studies of membrane bound Plasmodium falciparum mitochondrial L-malate:quinone oxidoreductase, a potential drug target. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg. 2018 Mar;1859(3):191-200. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.12.004. Epub 2017 Dec 18. Hartuti ED, Inaoka DK, Komatsuya K, Miyazaki Y, Miller RJ, Xinying W, Sadikin M, Prabandari EE, Waluyo D, Kuroda M, Amalia E, Matsuo Y, Nugroho NB, Saimoto H, Pramisandi A, Watanabe YI, Mori M, Shiomi K, Balogun EO, Shiba T, Harada S, Nozaki T, et al.

Glycerol kinase of African trypanosomes possesses an intrinsic phosphatase activity. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2017 Nov;1861(11 Pt A):2830-2842. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.07.028. Epub 2017 Aug 2. Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Tokuoka SM, Tokumasu F, Sakamoto K, Kido Y, Michels PAM, Watanabe YI, Harada S, Kita K.

Expression, purification, and crystallization of type 1 isocitrate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma brucei brucei. Protein Expr Purif. 2017 Oct;138:56-62. doi: 10.1016/j.pep.2017.06.011. Epub 2017 Jun 20. Wang X, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Balogun EO, Allmann S, Watanabe YI, Boshart M, Kita K, Harada S.

Design and synthesis of potent substrate-based inhibitors of the Trypanosoma cruzi dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Bioorg Med Chem. 2017 Feb 15;25(4):1465-1470. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.01.009. Epub 2017 Jan 9. Inaoka DK, Iida M, Hashimoto S, Tabuchi T, Kuranaga T, Balogun EO, Honma T, Tanaka A, Harada S, Nara T, Kita K, Inoue M.

Conjugates of 2,4-Dihydroxybenzoate and Salicylhydroxamate and Lipocations Display Potent Antiparasite Effects by Efficiently Targeting the Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma congolense Mitochondrion. J Med Chem. 2017 Feb 23;60(4):1509-1522. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01740. Epub 2017 Feb 9. Fueyo González FJ, Ebiloma GU, Izquierdo García C, Bruggeman V, Sánchez Villamañán JM, Donachie A, Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Harada S, Kita K, de Koning HP, Dardonville C.

Global warming and the possible globalization of vector-borne diseases: a call for increased awareness and action. Trop Med Health. 2016 Nov 24;44:38. eCollection 2016. Balogun EO, Nok AJ, Kita K.

The Open Form Inducer Approach for Structure-Based Drug Design. PLoS One. 2016 Nov 28;11(11):e0167078. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167078. eCollection 2016. Inaoka DK, Iida M, Tabuchi T, Honma T, Lee N, Hashimoto S, Matsuoka S, Kuranaga T, Sato K, Shiba T, Sakamoto K, Balogun EO, Suzuki S, Nara T, Rocha JR, Montanari CA, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Kita K, Harada S.

In vivo curative and protective potential of orally administered 5-aminolevulinic acid plus ferrous ion against malaria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Nov;59(11):6960-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01910-15. Epub 2015 Aug 31. Suzuki S, Hikosaka K, Balogun EO, Komatsuya K, Niikura M, Kobayashi F, Takahashi K, Tanaka T, Nakajima M, Kita K.

Structural Insights into the Molecular Design of Flutolanil Derivatives Targeted for Fumarate Respiration of Parasite Mitochondria. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Jul 7;16(7):15287-308. doi: 10.3390/ijms160715287. Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Sato D, Balogun EO, Sasaki T, Nagahama M, Oda M, Matsuoka S, Ohmori J, Honma T, Inoue M, Kita K, Harada S.

Pharmacophore modeling for anti-Chagas drug design using the fragment molecular orbital method. PLoS One. 2015 May 11;10(5):e0125829. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125829. eCollection 2015. Yoshino R, Yasuo N, Inaoka DK, Hagiwara Y, Ohno K, Orita M, Inoue M, Shiba T, Harada S, Honma T, Balogun EO, da Rocha JR, Montanari CA, Kita K, Sekijima M.

Molecular basis for the reverse reaction of African human trypanosomes glycerol kinase. Mol Microbiol. 2014 Dec;94(6):1315-29. doi: 10.1111/mmi.12831. Epub 2014 Nov 4. Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Kido Y, Tsuge C, Nara T, Aoki T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Matsuoka S, Michels PA, Kita K, Harada S.

Anemia amelioration by lactose infusion during trypanosomosis could be associated with erythrocytes membrane de-galactosylation. Vet Parasitol. 2014 Jan 31;199(3-4):259-63. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.10.013. Epub 2013 Oct 26. Balogun EO, Balogun JB, Yusuf S, Inuwa HM, Ndams IS, Sheridan P, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Harada S, Kita K, Esievo KA, Nok AJ.

Synergy of ferrous ion on 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated growth inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum. J Biochem. 2013 Dec;154(6):501-4. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvt096. Epub 2013 Oct 24. Komatsuya K, Hata M, Balogun EO, Hikosaka K, Suzuki S, Takahashi K, Tanaka T, Nakajima M, Ogura S, Sato S, Kita K.

Biochemical characterization of highly active Trypanosoma brucei gambiense glycerol kinase, a promising drug target. J Biochem. 2013 Jul;154(1):77-84. doi: 10.1093/jb/mvt037. Epub 2013 Apr 25. Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Shiba T, Kido Y, Nara T, Aoki T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Matsuoka S, Michels PA, Harada S, Kita K.

Structure of the trypanosome cyanide-insensitive alternative oxidase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 19;110(12):4580-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1218386110. Epub 2013 Mar 4. Shiba T, Kido Y, Sakamoto K, Inaoka DK, Tsuge C, Tatsumi R, Takahashi G, Balogun EO, Nara T, Aoki T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Matsuoka S, Saimoto H, Moore AL, Harada S, Kita K.

Identification and characterization of sialidase-like activity in the developmental stages of Amblyomma variegatum. J Med Entomol. 2013 Jan;50(1):85-93. Natala AJ, Balogun EO, Balogun JA, Inuwa HM, Nok AJ, Shiba T, Harada S, Kita K, Agbede RI, Esievo KA.

Overproduction, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense glycerol kinase. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun. 2010 Mar 1;66(Pt 3):304-8. doi: 10.1107/S1744309110000369. Epub 2010 Feb 24. Balogun EO, Inaoka DK, Kido Y, Shiba T, Nara T, Aoki T, Honma T, Tanaka A, Inoue M, Matsuoka S, Michels PA, Harada S, Kita K.

Correlation of gastric mucosal damage with sialic acid profile in rats: effect of hydrochloric acid, pepsin and hypertonic saline. Cell Biochem Funct. 2005 Sep-Oct;23(5):339-45. Yusuf S, Nok AJ, Ameh DA, Adelaiye AB, Balogun EO.

Quantitative changes in gastric mucosal glycoproteins: effect of cholinergic agonist and vagal nerve stimulation in the rat. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2004 Oct;16(5):613-9. Yusuf S, Nok AJ, Ameh DA, Adelaiye AB, Balogun EO.

A bloodstream Trypanosoma congolense sialidase could be involved in anemia during experimental trypanosomiasis. J Biochem. 2003 Jun;133(6):725-30. Erratum in: J Biochem (Tokyo). 2003 Jul;134(1):173. Nok AJ, Balogun EO.

Aryl sulfatase from Naja nigricolis venom: characterization and possible contribution in the pathology of snake poisoning. J Biochem Mol Toxicol. 2003;17(1):59-66. Nok AJ, Abubakar MS, Adaudi A, Balogun EO.

Inhibition of Naja nigricolis venom acidic phospholipase A2 catalysed hydrolysis of ghost red blood cells by columbin. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2002 Feb;17(1):55-9. Nok AJ, Balogun EO, Lori JA, Abubakar MS.

A 45-kDa midgut glycoprotein from Anopheles albimanus mosquito mediates the killing of trypanosomes. Cell Biochem Funct. 2002 Sep;20(3):257-62. Nok AJ, Njoku GC, Balogun EO.