Population Genomics Of Plasmodium Vivax In Papua New Guinea
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,238.00
Summary
Plasmodium vivax malaria is a serious global public health problem that has not received the attention it deserves, despite having serious clinical implications and presenting a major problem for regional malaria control programmes. In a study of people living in a malarious area of PNG, we aim to investigate the diversity of natural parasite populations, to better understand the possible effects of malaria control interventions on transmission and human immunity.
Malaria In Pregnancy: Exposure, Immunity And Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$549,723.00
Summary
Increasing malaria control efforts may lead to lack of exposure needed to develop immunity. We will use plasma samples from Africa, PNG and Asia, and measures of immunity we have developed, to discover (1) which are the most important protective immune responses and (2) how are these affected by changing exposure or new drugs. Overall, we hope to identify markers of protective immunity that can be used to identify women at most risk of malaria in pregnancy and its complications
Functional Resolution Of PTEX, The Exporter Of Virulence Factors In Malaria Parasites.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$625,212.00
Summary
Almost half a million people die each year of malaria and nearly half the world’s population are at risk. To eliminate malaria this century we will need new drugs and vaccine to fight the disease. One potential drug target are the molecular gateways called PTEX, that are used by parasites to export virulence proteins into their human host cells. This grant aims to understand how the PTEX molecular machines work so we can develop new drugs to block them and kill the parasites.
Targeting Commitment To Sexual Differentiation In Plasmodium
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$688,954.00
Summary
Efforts to control malaria in endemic areas are very often thwarted by "carriers", who have transmissible parasites in their bloodstream (called gametocytes), but who suffer no symptoms. These gametocytes serve as a reservoir ready to reinitiate disease transmission when mosquito numbers increase. This project will develop urgently needed strategies to target gametocytes, and thus block malaria transmission.
In 2013 there were ~200 million clinical cases of malaria, causing ~600,000 deaths. All antimalarial drugs are now associated with malaria parasite resistance. Thus, new therapies are urgently needed, including new drugs to prevent this disease. We have made the exciting discovery that an existing antimalarial drug can kill malaria parasites in a unique, previously unknown, manner. Here, we will investigate how this occurs and develop new drug candidates for malaria prevention.
Griseofulvin, A Novel Host-directed Antimalarial Drug
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$461,551.00
Summary
This grant is for a Phase II clinical trial to test an FDA & TGA approved drug for a new use as an antimalarial drug. The parasite uses an enzyme from the human RBC to help it replicate & early trials show this drug appears to disrupt the life cycle of the parasite. This Phase II clinical trial will test the drug on human subjects, & if successful, the drug will be a new and novel way in which to treat and prevent malarial infections in humans.
The Control And Regulatory Mechanisms Of Artemisinin Induced Dormancy In P. Falciparum
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$495,552.00
Summary
Malaria is a major global health problem and can only be reliably treated with artemisinin combinations in many areas due to widespread of drug resistance. However a proportion of parasites appear to be able to avoid the lethal effects of the drug by becoming “dormant” following exposure. They resume growth after the drug is wanned, a feature which is reminisent to cell cycle arrest. This study investigates the role of cell cycle machinery in dormancy following arteminsinin treatment.
Export Of PfEMP1, The Major Virulence Protein Of P. Falciparum, To The Parasite-infected Erythrocyte Surface
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$588,532.00
Summary
The malaria parasite infects red blood cells in the human host and initiates major remodelling. This involves export of a major virulence protein to the surface of the red blood cell. This research seeks to understand how the parasite exports this protein, a key determinant of disease.
Dynamics Of Malaria Transmission Stages In Host And Vector: Bottlenecks And Their Impact Transmission And Parasite Population Diversity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$780,554.00
Summary
The adoption of malaria elimination as the long-term goal requires malaria programs to shift their focus from controlling the burden of malaria disease & deaths to the interruption of transmission itself. This will be impossible without an improved understanding of the processes involved and novel tools directly targeting transmission. We therefore plan to conduct an in-depth examination of bottlenecks to malaria transmission in Papua New Guinea, the country with the highest malaria burden in ou ....The adoption of malaria elimination as the long-term goal requires malaria programs to shift their focus from controlling the burden of malaria disease & deaths to the interruption of transmission itself. This will be impossible without an improved understanding of the processes involved and novel tools directly targeting transmission. We therefore plan to conduct an in-depth examination of bottlenecks to malaria transmission in Papua New Guinea, the country with the highest malaria burden in our region.Read moreRead less