Identifying The Targets Of Protective Immunity To Malaria In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$457,267.00
Summary
Malaria in pregnancy is a major cause of disease across many countries. Pregnant women have a high risk of malaria, and large numbers of malaria parasites accumulate in the placenta, which may lead to infant or maternal death. Malaria parasites infect the placenta by producing proteins that enable them to stick to the placenta. These malaria strains causing placental infection generally do not cause disease in non-pregnant individuals. Antibodies to the parasite proteins are produced in response ....Malaria in pregnancy is a major cause of disease across many countries. Pregnant women have a high risk of malaria, and large numbers of malaria parasites accumulate in the placenta, which may lead to infant or maternal death. Malaria parasites infect the placenta by producing proteins that enable them to stick to the placenta. These malaria strains causing placental infection generally do not cause disease in non-pregnant individuals. Antibodies to the parasite proteins are produced in response to placental infection, which may help control the infection and protect against further malaria in pregnancy. However, placental malaria parasites are able to vary the proteins they produce to avoid immune responses. In this project, we will study the parasite strains that cause malaria in pregnancy and the development of antibodies that protect pregnant women against malaria and its complications. We aim to identify the genes and proteins that parasites use to stick to the placenta, and determine how much variation occurs in these proteins. We will also specifically examine the role of one particular candidate gene called var2csa, and its protein, as this has been recently been associated with pregnancy malaria. We will examine how antibodies develop that recognise different proteins and different forms of malaria parasites, and determine the type of antibodies that protect pregnant women taking part in a longitudinal study of malaria in pregnancy in Malawi, Africa. We will also examine how antimalarial drugs taken in pregnancy influence the development of protective antibodies. Through these studies we aim to understand how the immune system combats malaria in pregnancy. This will be important for developing new methods for preventing or treating malaria in pregnancy, and improving child and maternal health.Read moreRead less
Human Malarial Immunity And Risk Of Malaria Post-partum And During Infancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$263,079.00
Summary
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in children and pregnant women. This project aims to understand and identify immune responses that protect pregnant women and infants from malaria. This knowledge is critical to understanding immunity to malaria in high risk groups and for the development and use of vaccines to protect pregnant women and their babies.
Defining The Targets And Function Of Antibodies That Protect Against Malaria In Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$547,970.00
Summary
Malaria during pregnancy is a major cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality globally. In this project we aim to define the targets of antibodies that protect against malaria in pregnancy and understand the importance of antibody function, determine the extent of antigenic diversity, and identify epitopes of protective antibodies. Results will provide critical knowledge on the development of immunity to malaria in pregnancy that will guide vaccine development.
Immunological Changes During Pregnancy And The Impact On Viral Hepatitis Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,355.00
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause long term health problems particularly affecting the liver and can be passed from mother to baby. Despite the availability of a HBV vaccine babies can still become infected. During pregnancy there are changes in a woman’s immune system which may impact on HBV infection and make transmission to the baby more likely. This research aims to explore the changes in a woman’s immune system and the impact this has on risks for hepatitis and transmission to the baby.
The Role Of The Innate Immune System In The Immunopathogenesis Of Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,554.00
Summary
Malaria is common worldwide, affecting 600 million people. As with many infectious diseases, it the severity of a malaria infection is not only dictated by the parasite, but also the body’s immune response to the infection. This study looks at cells that contribute to the immediate immune response in two major clinical syndromes of malaria affecting women and children: cerebral malaria and malaria of pregnancy. By understanding the immune response, we gain insights into how to limit disease.
Trafficking And Expression Of PfEMP1 On The Surface Of P.falciparum-infected Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$558,189.00
Summary
Malaria causes over 2 million deaths each year. The parasite infects human red blood cells and expresses a virulence protein on the erythrocyte surface allowing it to adhere to the microcapillaries preventing clearance through the spleen. We aim to understand how the parasite is able to express this virulence protein on the parasite-infected red blood cell surface. Identification of the proteins involved will provide potential drug targets to develop novel antimalarial compounds and strategies.
A Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetic And Efficacy Study Of Azithromycin Plus Piperaquine As Intermittent Presumptive Treatment In Pregnant Papua New Guinean Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$345,684.00
Summary
The purpose of this research is to investigate a new antimalarial combination therapy, azithromycin (AZI) plus piperaquine (PQ), for the prevention of malaria infection in pregnant Papua New Guinean women. It is anticipated that these studies will provide sufficient data to determine if AZI-PQ is a suitable alternative treatment option in PNG, and other countries which have similar malaria epidemiology including the presence of drug resistant parasites.