The Role Of Parasite Adhesins In Plasmodium Falciparum Invasion Of Human Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$385,434.00
Summary
Invasion of red blood cells is essential for the survival of malaria parasite within the human host. Red blood cell invasion is mediated by recognition of parasite proteins to specific blood surface receptors. My research focuses on understanding these parasite protein-host receptor interactions with emphasis on translating these findings as novel approaches for the prevention and treatment of malaria.
T-follicular Helper Cell Subsets That Induce Protective Anti-Plasmodium Falciparum Antibodies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$456,262.00
Summary
Malaria claims at least half a million lives each year, the majority of them in children under the age of 5 years. In order to development effective vaccines malaria it is critically important that we increase our understanding of the key mechanisms governing the induction of protective immune responses in naturally exposed populations. This project will examine the role of one important cell subset - T-follicular helper cells - in the development of immunity against malaria.
New Antimalarial Drug Leads Targeting Multiple Species And Life Cycle Stages
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$818,477.00
Summary
Malaria causes ~200 million clinical cases and >430,000 deaths annually. Prevention and treatment relies on drugs, however malaria parasite drug resistance is an enormous problem. To address this issue, and aim towards eliminating malaria, we need to develop new drugs. This project addresses this important health need by investigating the ability of new chemical compounds, developed at CSIRO, to kill human-infecting malaria parasites during different parts of their complicated lifecycles.
Novel Serological Tools To Aid Malaria Elimination In The Asia-Pacific
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,362,749.00
Summary
In 2014 Asia-Pacific leaders pledged a malaria free Asia-Pacific by 2030. We will contribute to this goal by developing novel antibody detection tests that can identify people with current and recent past infections. We will then evaluate the utility of these tests both in mass screening and treatment programs and for the rapid delineation of areas where transmission persists from those where it has been eliminated. This will address two major roadblocks to malaria elimination in our region.
Effector Export In P. Falciparum Infected Human Erythrocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,066,920.00
Summary
We will investigate malaria, a parasitic disease that kills over 450,000 people a year. We will explore how the parasite identifies, invades and remodels the host cells in which it lives, scavenging nutrients and hiding from the immune system. We will characterize the proteins involved in these critical events, as they are potential targets for drugs. We will study how parasites cause disease and how the host responds to infection.
A Novel Approach To Identify The Specific Antibody Characteristics Important For Protection From Malaria In Pregnant Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,011,223.00
Summary
Antibody protects against malaria, but the specific characteristics of protective antibody are unknown. Pregnant women lack antibody to parasite protein called VAR2CSA, explaining their malaria susceptibility. Using samples from vaccine trials and clinical studies in pregnant women, and a ‘Systems Serology’ approach, we will determine which naturally-acquired or vaccine induced antibodies protect pregnant women from malaria, and how variation in VAR2CSA sequences affects this protection.
Breaking Malaria's Lethal Grip: Targeting The Assembly Of An Adhesive Complex On Infected Red Blood Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$817,426.00
Summary
The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, infects the red blood cells of its human victims. It causes them to stick to blood vessel walls in the brain, causing severe cerebral complications and death. Adhesion is mediated by a Velcro-like protein that is presented at the red blood cell surface. This project will fully elucidate the pathway for trafficking of the adhesion protein to the red blood cell surface with a view to finding new ways of interfering with malaria disease.
Surface Antigens Of Plasmodium Falciparum-infected Erythrocytes And Immunity To Malaria In Humans
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,180.00
Summary
Malaria is a leading cause of death globally, particularly among children. Malaria parasites infect red blood cells and multiply inside them, resulting in severe illness if left untreated. Effective treatments are limited and currently there is no vaccine. In human studies, we aim to identify the target antigens of immune responses and immune mechanisms that protect against malaria. With this knowledge, vaccines can be designed against malaria to prevent serious illness and death.
Role Of Plasmepsin V And PTEX Complex In Plasmodium Liver Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$848,408.00
Summary
Plasmepsin V and PTEX are essential proteins for malaria parasites to grow inside red blood cells. These proteins control the export of parasite proteins into red cells, causing disease. Before red blood cells are infected, parasites invade liver cells. Plasmepsin V and PTEX are expressed during liver infection but their function is currently unknown. We hypothesise that they allow parasites to export proteins into liver cells in order to survive and, thus, are antimalarial drug targets.
Chromatin Dynamics During Sexual Differentiation In The Malaria Parasite P. Falciparum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$535,858.00
Summary
Inhibiting malaria transmission is a critical step towards global eradication of this deadly disease. This proposal aims to understand the mechanisms regulating the expression of genes which control the differentiation of the transmission stages of malaria parasites. Such pathways are prime targets for novel anti-malarial drugs.