** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** CRYPTOSPORIDIUM PARVUM (C. PARVUM) IS A HIGHLY PREVALENT PARASITE THAT CAUSES A SERIOUS DIARRHEAL ILLNESS IN CALVES, LAMBS AND GOAT KIDS IN THE UNITED STATES AND WORLD-WIDE. THERE ARE NEITHER EFFECTIVE DRUGS NOR VACCINE AVAILABLE AGAINST C. PARVUM, AND THE PARASITE EGGS CONTAMINATING THE ENVIRONMENT CANNOT BE ELIMINATED BECAUSE THEY ARE RESISTANT TO VIRTUALLY ALL KINDS OF CHEMICAL DISINFECTANTS. THEREFORE, THERE IS URGENT NEED TO DEVELOP NEW EFFECTIVE DRUGS AGAINST C. PARVUM INFECTIONS IN LIVESTOCK. C. PARVUM RELIES SOLELY ON THE BREAKDOWN OF GLUCOSE TO PRODUCE ENERGY FOR ITS GROWTH AND SURVIVAL IN THE HOST. WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY SHOWN THAT SMALL CHEMICAL MOLECULES THAT BLOCK THE PROCESS OF GLUCOSE BREAKDOWN IN C. PARVUM CAN STOP THE GROWTH OF THIS PARASITE, AND PREVENT DISEASE DEVELOPMENT IN INFECTED MICE EXPERIMENTAL MODELS. THEREFORE, IN THIS PROJECT, WE WILL AIM TO DEVELOP CHEMICAL MOLECULES THAT ARE HIGHLY EFFICIENT IN BLOCKING PARASITE GLUCOSE BREAKDOWN AND TEST THEIR SAFETY AND EFFICACY IN TREATING C. PARVUM INFECTIONS IN BOVINE CALVES. AT COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, WE EXPECT TO UNVEIL LEAD-CHEMICAL MOLECULES SUITABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL, SAFE, AND EFFICACIOUS DRUGS THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY TREAT C. PARVUM INFECTIONS AND IMPROVE LIVESTOCK HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY.