Jeff Diffenderfer
Papers
1
Total Citations
44
H-Index
1
About
Jeff Diffenderfer is a biochemist whose research centers on antiparasitic drug discovery, with a particular focus on the molecular vulnerabilities of *Toxoplasma gondii*. His most cited work, a 2002 study, pioneered a high-throughput robotic screening of approximately 150,000 small-molecule compounds to identify inhibitors of nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (NTPase), a novel enzyme critical to the tachyzoite stage of the parasite. This landmark effort uncovered five unrelated compound classes capable of disrupting NTPase activity, laying essential groundwork for developing targeted therapeutics against toxoplasmosis. With 44 citations, this paper remains a foundational reference in the field, demonstrating Diffenderfer’s skill in merging enzymology with automated drug discovery. His contributions highlight the power of large-scale chemical library screening to combat neglected parasitic diseases, offering a blueprint for future research into *T. gondii* and related pathogens.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1