Judy Sakanari, PhD

Professor

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Christopher Franklin

[email protected]

Phone: +1 415 476-0825

1700 4th St, Rm 508B

UCSF Box 2550

San Francisco, CA 94158

United States

Links

Sakanari Lab

UCSF Profiles

UCSF centers, institutes, and research programs

Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI)

What I do

As a parasitologist I am interested in developing drugs to treat parasitic diseases that affect millions of people worldwide. I work with a number of collaborators to identify drug candidates using a multifaceted screening funnel and to develop innovative tools to accelerate the discovery of novel drugs.

Departmental research area

chemical biology and medicinal chemistry

Degrees

Bachelor of Arts, Human Physiology, University of California, Berkeley

PhD, Parasitology, University of California, Berkeley

Research keywords

auranofin, Loiasis, Nematoda, Gerbillinae, Filaricides, Wolbachia, Anisakis, Rifampin, Filariasis, Elephantiasis, Filarial, Microfilariae, Onchocerciasis, Brugia pahangi, Mebendazole, Anthelmintics

Publications

Whitman JD, Sakanari JA, Mitreva M. Areas of Metabolomic Exploration for Helminth Infections. ACS Infect Dis. 2021 Jan 25.

Tyagi R, Bulman CA, Cho-Ngwa F, Fischer C, Marcellino C, Arkin MR, McKerrow JH, McNamara CW, Mahoney M, Tricoche N, Jawahar S, Janetka JW, Lustigman S, Sakanari J, Mitreva M. An Integrated Approach to Identify New Anti-Filarial Leads to Treat River Blindness, a Neglected Tropical Disease. Pathogens. 2021 Jan 14; 10(1).

Feng L, Pomel S, Latre de Late P, Taravaud A, Loiseau PM, Maes L, Cho-Ngwa F, Bulman CA, Fischer C, Sakanari JA, Ziniel PD, Williams DL, Davioud-Charvet E. Repurposing Auranofin and Evaluation of a New Gold(I) Compound for the Search of Treatment of Human and Cattle Parasitic Diseases: From Protozoa to Helminth Infections. Molecules. 2020 Nov 01; 25(21).

Gunderson E, Bulman C, Luo M, Sakanari J. In vitro screening methods for parasites: the wMicroTracker & the WormAssay. MicroPubl Biol. 2020 Jul 20; 2020.

Gunderson EL, Vogel I, Chappell L, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Luo M, Whitman JD, Franklin C, Choi YJ, Lefoulon E, Clark T, Beerntsen B, Slatko B, Mitreva M, Sullivan W, Sakanari JA. The endosymbiont Wolbachia rebounds following antibiotic treatment. PLoS Pathog. 2020 07; 16(7):e1008623.

Jasmer DP, Rosa BA, Tyagi R, Bulman CA, Beerntsen B, Urban JF, Sakanari J, Mitreva M. De novo identification of toxicants that cause irreparable damage to parasitic nematode intestinal cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 05; 14(5):e0007942.

Carter DS, Jacobs RT, Freund YR, Berry PW, Akama T, Easom EE, Lunde CS, Rock F, Stefanakis R, McKerrow J, Fischer C, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Suzuki BM, Tricoche N, Sakanari JA, Lustigman S, Plattner JJ. Macrofilaricidal Benzimidazole-Benzoxaborole Hybrids as an Approach to the Treatment of River Blindness: Part 2. Ketone Linked Analogs. ACS Infect Dis. 2020 02 14; 6(2):180-185.

Akama T, Freund YR, Berry PW, Carter DS, Easom EE, Jarnagin K, Lunde CS, Plattner JJ, Rock F, Stefanakis R, Fischer C, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Suzuki BM, Tricoche N, Mansour A, DiCosty U, McCall S, Carson B, McCall JW, McKerrow J, Hübner MP, Specht S, Hoerauf A, Lustigman S, Sakanari JA, Jacobs RT. Macrofilaricidal Benzimidazole-Benzoxaborole Hybrids as an Approach to the Treatment of River Blindness: Part 1. Amide Linked Analogs. ACS Infect Dis. 2020 02 14; 6(2):173-179.

Hübner MP, Gunderson E, Vogel I, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Koschel M, Ehrens A, Frohberger SJ, Fendler M, Tricoche N, Voronin D, Steven A, Chi V, Bakowski MA, Woods AK, Petrassi HM, McNamara CW, Beerntsen B, Chappell L, Sullivan W, Taylor MJ, Turner JD, Hoerauf A, Lustigman S, Sakanari JA. Short-course quinazoline drug treatments are effective in the Litomosoides sigmodontis and Brugia pahangi jird models. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2020 04; 12:18-27.

Whitman JD, Bulman CA, Gunderson EL, Irish AM, Townsend RL, Stramer SL, Sakanari JA, Bern C. Chagas Disease Serological Test Performance in U.S. Blood Donor Specimens. J Clin Microbiol. 2019 12; 57(12).

Cho-Ngwa F, Mbah GE, Ayiseh RB, Ndi EM, Monya E, Tumanjong IM, Mainsah EN, Sakanari J, Lustigman S. Development and validation of an Onchocerca ochengi adult male worm gerbil model for macrofilaricidal drug screening. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 07; 13(7):e0007556.

Tyagi R, Elfawal MA, Wildman SA, Helander J, Bulman CA, Sakanari J, Rosa BA, Brindley PJ, Janetka JW, Aroian RV, Mitreva M. Identification of small molecule enzyme inhibitors as broad-spectrum anthelmintics. Sci Rep. 2019 06 24; 9(1):9085.

Voronin D, Tricoche N, Jawahar S, Shlossman M, Bulman CA, Fischer C, Suderman MT, Sakanari JA, Lustigman S. Development of a preliminary in vitro drug screening assay based on a newly established culturing system for pre-adult fifth-stage Onchocerca volvulus worms. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 01; 13(1):e0007108.

Fischer C, Ibiricu Urriza I, Bulman CA, Lim KC, Gut J, Lachau-Durand S, Engelen M, Quirynen L, Tekle F, Baeten B, Beerntsen B, Lustigman S, Sakanari J. Efficacy of subcutaneous doses and a new oral amorphous solid dispersion formulation of flubendazole on male jirds (Meriones unguiculatus) infected with the filarial nematode Brugia pahangi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 01; 13(1):e0006787.

Laurie MT, White CV, Retallack H, Wu W, Moser MS, Sakanari JA, Ang K, Wilson C, Arkin MR, DeRisi JL. Functional Assessment of 2,177 U.S. and International Drugs Identifies the Quinoline Nitroxoline as a Potent Amoebicidal Agent against the Pathogen Balamuthia mandrillaris. mBio. 2018 10 30; 9(5).

Tyagi R, Maddirala AR, Elfawal M, Fischer C, Bulman CA, Rosa BA, Gao X, Chugani R, Zhou M, Helander J, Brindley PJ, Tseng CC, Greig IR, Sakanari J, Wildman SA, Aroian R, Janetka JW, Mitreva M. Small Molecule Inhibitors of Metabolic Enzymes Repurposed as a New Class of Anthelmintics. ACS Infect Dis. 2018 07 13; 4(7):1130-1145.

Timothy G. Geary, Judy Sakanari, Conor R. Caffrey, John Janovy, Gerald W. Esch. Anthelmintic drug discovery: Into the future. A Century of Parasitology. 2016 Mar 7; 215-228.

Bulman CA, Bidlow CM, Lustigman S, Cho-Ngwa F, Williams D, Rascón AA, Tricoche N, Samje M, Bell A, Suzuki B, Lim KC, Supakorndej N, Supakorndej P, Wolfe AR, Knudsen GM, Chen S, Wilson C, Ang KH, Arkin M, Gut J, Franklin C, Marcellino C, McKerrow JH, Debnath A, Sakanari JA. Repurposing auranofin as a lead candidate for treatment of lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Feb; 9(2):e0003534.

Geary TG, Sakanari JA, Caffrey CR. Anthelmintic drug discovery: into the future. J Parasitol. 2015 Apr; 101(2):125-33.

Utilization of computer processed high definition video imaging for measuring motility of microscopic nematode stages on a quantitative scale: "The Worminator". Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist. 2014 Dec; 4(3):233-43.

A cysteine protease inhibitor rescues mice from a lethal Cryptosporidium parvum infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 Dec; 57(12):6063-73.

Investigation of the proteolytic functions of an expanded cercarial elastase gene family in Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012; 6(4):e1589.

WormAssay: a novel computer application for whole-plate motion-based screening of macroscopic parasites. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012 Jan; 6(1):e1494.

Proteomic analysis of human skin treated with larval schistosome peptidases reveals distinct invasion strategies among species of blood flukes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 Sep; 5(9):e1337.

DuBois KN, Abodeely M, Sakanari J, Craik CS, Lee M, McKerrow JH, Sajid M. Identification of the major cysteine protease of Giardia and its role in encystation. J Biol Chem. 2008 Jun 27; 283(26):18024-31.

Nadler SA, D'Amelio S, Dailey MD, Paggi L, Siu S, Sakanari JA. Molecular phylogenetics and diagnosis of Anisakis, Pseudoterranova, and Contracaecum from northern Pacific marine mammals. J Parasitol. 2005 Dec; 91(6):1413-29.

Kim YM, Hwang HA, Yun WS, Kim SI, Lee KW, Park SK, Lee YJ, Kim TK, Wongsrichanalai C, Sakanari JA, Park H. Efficacy of the merozoite surface protein 1 of Plasmodium vivax as an antigen for ELISA to diagnose malaria. Yonsei Med J. 2004 Feb 29; 45(1):129-34.

Seong Y. Park, Kil H. Lee, Young B. Hwang, Kwang Y. Kim, Seung K. Park, H. A. Hwang, Judy A. Sakanari, Kyeong M. Hong, Suk-il Kim, Hyun Park. Characterization and Large-Scale Expression of the Recombinant Cysteine Proteinase from Adult Clonorchis sinensis. Journal of Parasitology. 2001 Dec 1; 87(6):1454.

Park SY, Lee KH, Hwang YB, Kim KY, Park SK, Hwang HA, Sakanari JA, Hong KM, Kim SI, Park H. Characterization and large-scale expression of the recombinant cysteine proteinase from adult Clonorchis sinensis. J Parasitol. 2001 Dec; 87(6):1454-8.

Park H, Hong KM, Sakanari JA, Choi JH, Park SK, Kim KY, Hwang HA, Paik MK, Yun KJ, Shin CH, Lee JB, Ryu JS, Min DY. Paragonimus westermani: cloning of a cathepsin F-like cysteine proteinase from the adult worm. Exp Parasitol. 2001 Aug; 98(4):223-7.

Renard G, Garcia JF, Cardoso FC, Richter MF, Sakanari JA, Ozaki LS, Termignoni C, Masuda A. Cloning and functional expression of a Boophilus microplus cathepsin L-like enzyme. Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2000 Nov; 30(11):1017-26.

Rowley HA, Uht RM, Kazacos KR, Sakanari J, Wheaton WV, Barkovich AJ, Bollen AW. Radiologic-pathologic findings in raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) encephalitis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000 Feb; 21(2):415-20.

Selzer PM, Pingel S, Hsieh I, Ugele B, Chan VJ, Engel JC, Bogyo M, Russell DG, Sakanari JA, McKerrow JH. Cysteine protease inhibitors as chemotherapy: lessons from a parasite target. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Sep 28; 96(20):11015-22.

Nguyen TT, Qasim MA, Morris S, Lu CC, Hill D, Laskowski M, Sakanari JA. Expression and characterization of elastase inhibitors from the ascarid nematodes Anisakis simplex and Ascaris suum. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1999 Jul 30; 102(1):79-89.

Chan VJ, Selzer PM, McKerrow JH, Sakanari JA. Expression and alteration of the S2 subsite of the Leishmania major cathepsin B-like cysteine protease. Biochem J. 1999 May 15; 340 ( Pt 1):113-7.

Victor J. CHAN, Paul M. SELZER, James H. McKERROW, Judy A. SAKANARI. Expression and alteration of the S2 subsite of the Leishmania major cathepsin B-like cysteine protease. Biochemical Journal. 1999 May 15; 340(1):113-117.

Lu CC, Nguyen T, Morris S, Hill D, Sakanari JA. Anisakis simplex: mutational bursts in the reactive site centers of serine protease inhibitors from an ascarid nematode. Exp Parasitol. 1998 Jun; 89(2):257-61.

Selzer PM, Chen X, Chan VJ, Cheng M, Kenyon GL, Kuntz ID, Sakanari JA, Cohen FE, McKerrow JH. Leishmania major: molecular modeling of cysteine proteases and prediction of new nonpeptide inhibitors. Exp Parasitol. 1997 Nov; 87(3):212-21.

Sakanari JA, Nadler SA, Chan VJ, Engel JC, Leptak C, Bouvier J. Leishmania major: comparison of the cathepsin L- and B-like cysteine protease genes with those of other trypanosomatids. Exp Parasitol. 1997 Jan; 85(1):63-76.

Hill DE, Sakanari JA. Trichuris suis: thiol protease activity from adult worms. Exp Parasitol. 1997 Jan; 85(1):55-62.

Whitaker DJ, Kent ML, Sakanari JA. Kudoa miniauriculata n. sp. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea) from the musculature of bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis) from California. J Parasitol. 1996 Apr; 82(2):312-5.

Hagen HE, Kläger SL, Chan V, Sakanari JA, McKerrow JH, Ham PJ. Simulium damnosum s.l.: identification of inducible serine proteases following an Onchocerca infection by differential display reverse transcription PCR. Exp Parasitol. 1995 Nov; 81(3):249-54.

Morris SR, Sakanari JA. Characterization of the serine protease and serine protease inhibitor from the tissue-penetrating nematode Anisakis simplex. J Biol Chem. 1994 Nov 04; 269(44):27650-6.

Hotez P, Cappello M, Hawdon J, Beckers C, Sakanari J. Hyaluronidases of the gastrointestinal invasive nematodes Ancylostoma caninum and Anisakis simplex: possible functions in the pathogenesis of human zoonoses. J Infect Dis. 1994 Oct; 170(4):918-26.

Richer JK, Hunt WG, Sakanari JA, Grieve RB. Dirofilaria immitis: effect of fluoromethyl ketone cysteine protease inhibitors on the third- to fourth-stage molt. Exp Parasitol. 1993 May; 76(3):221-31.

Richer JK, Sakanari JA, Frank GR, Grieve RB. Dirofilaria immitis: proteases produced by third- and fourth-stage larvae. Exp Parasitol. 1992 Sep; 75(2):213-22.

McGrath ME, Hines WM, Sakanari JA, Fletterick RJ, Craik CS. The sequence and reactive site of ecotin. A general inhibitor of pancreatic serine proteases from Escherichia coli. J Biol Chem. 1991 Apr 05; 266(10):6620-5.

Sakanari JA. Anisakis - from the platter to the microfuge. Parasitol Today. 1990 Oct; 6(10):323-7.

Sakanari JA, McKerrow JH. Identification of the secreted neutral proteases from Anisakis simplex. J Parasitol. 1990 Oct; 76(5):625-30.

Sakanari JA, Moser M. Adaptation of an introduced host to an indigenous parasite. J Parasitol. 1990 Jun; 76(3):420-3.

Eakin AE, Bouvier J, Sakanari JA, Craik CS, McKerrow JH. Amplification and sequencing of genomic DNA fragments encoding cysteine proteases from protozoan parasites. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1990 Feb; 39(1):1-8.

Judy A. Sakanari, Mike Moser. Complete Life Cycle of the Elasmobranch Cestode, Lacistorhynchus dollfusi Beveridge and Sakanari, 1987 (Trypanorhyncha). Journal of Parasitology. 1989 Oct 1; 75(5):806.

Sakanari JA, McKerrow JH. Anisakiasis. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1989 Jul; 2(3):278-84.

Sakanari JA, Staunton CE, Eakin AE, Craik CS, McKerrow JH. Serine proteases from nematode and protozoan parasites: isolation of sequence homologs using generic molecular probes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1989 Jul; 86(13):4863-7.

Lackey A, James ER, Sakanari JA, Resnick SD, Brown M, Bianco AE, McKerrow JH. Extracellular proteases of Onchocerca. Exp Parasitol. 1989 Feb; 68(2):176-85.

J A Sakanari, J H McKerrow. Anisakiasis. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 1989 Jan 1; 2(3):278-284.

McKerrow JH, Sakanari J, Deardorff TL. Anisakiasis: revenge of the sushi parasite. N Engl J Med. 1988 Nov 03; 319(18):1228-9.

Sakanari JA, Loinaz HM, Deardorff TL, Raybourne RB, McKerrow JH, Frierson JG. Intestinal anisakiasis. A case diagnosed by morphologic and immunologic methods. Am J Clin Pathol. 1988 Jul; 90(1):107-13.

Amiri P, Sakanari J, Basch P, Newport G, McKerrow JH. The Schistosomatium douthitti cercarial elastase is biochemically and structurally distinct from that of Schistosoma mansoni. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 1988 Mar; 28(2):113-20.

Mike Moser, Judy Sakanari, Gregor Cailliet. Vital Stain in Bait as a Tag. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 1986 Oct 1; 6(4):600-601.

Moser M, Sakanari J, Heckmann R. The effects of praziquantel on various larval and adult parasites from freshwater and marine snails and fish. J Parasitol. 1986 Feb; 72(1):175-6.

Mike MOSER, Judy SAKANARI. Experimental Infection of Blue Rockfish (Sebastes mystinus)with Larval Anisakid Nematodes. Fish Pathology. 1986 Jan 1; 21(2):81.

Mike MOSER, Judy SAKANARI. Tubercular Lesions in a Central California Rockfish (Sêbastes mystinus). Fish Pathology. 1986 Jan 1; 21(2):85.

M. MOSER, JUDY SAKANARI, S. WELLINGS, K. LINDSTROM. Incompatibility between San Francisco striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), and the metacestode, Lacistorhynchus tenuis (Beneden, 1858). Journal of Fish Diseases. 1984 Sep 1; 7(5):397-400.

J. A. Sakanari, M. Moser, C. A. Reilly, T. P. Yoshino. Effects of sublethal concentrations of zinc and benzene on striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), infected with larval Anisakis nematodes. Journal of Fish Biology. 1984 May 1; 24(5):553-563.

Mike Moser, Jeannette Whipple, Judy Sakanari, Carol Reilly. Protandrous Hermaphroditism in Striped Bass from Coos Bay, Oregon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 1983 Jul 1; 112(4):567-569.

Judy A. Sakanari, Carol A. Reilly, Mike Moser. Tubercular Lesions in Pacific Coast Populations of Striped Bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 1983 Jul 1; 112(4):565-566.