The Role Of Duffy And PF4 In The Platelet Killing Of Malaria Parasites.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,045.00
Summary
Platelets in the blood can kill the Plasmodium parasite, which lives inside red blood cells and causes malaria. Platelets bind parasite-infected red cells and release a molecule that is toxic to the parasite. This project will study why a red cell molecule called Duffy is also needed for this function of platelets. Most Africans carry a gene for Duffy that stops its expression in red cells, and may therefore be more susceptible to malaria because their platelets cannot kill the malaria parasite.
Development, Regulation And Role Of Innate Immunological Memory In Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$563,860.00
Summary
Innate immunity is traditionally considered to be a short-lived, non-specific first line of defense against pathogens. However, recent reports suggest that innate immune cells can learn from previous pathogen encounters, resulting in enhanced responses on repeat infections with the same pathogen. We will study the role and regulation of innate immunological memory during malaria infection. This will advance our understanding of malaria immunology and will likely aid in the development of vaccine ....Innate immunity is traditionally considered to be a short-lived, non-specific first line of defense against pathogens. However, recent reports suggest that innate immune cells can learn from previous pathogen encounters, resulting in enhanced responses on repeat infections with the same pathogen. We will study the role and regulation of innate immunological memory during malaria infection. This will advance our understanding of malaria immunology and will likely aid in the development of vaccines.Read moreRead less
Wrong Parasite, Wrong Host? How Plasmodium Falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 Expression And The Host’s Innate Immune Response Combine To Influence The Inflammatory Response To Malaria In Vitro And In Vivo. Implications For Severe Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$707,821.00
Summary
One factor that determines whether some children die of malaria is the type of protein that the parasite expresses on the red blood cell, to help it stick in blood vessels. Our new data suggests that some proteins stimulate excessive host immune response, possibly leading to severe malaria. People's immne response to malaria varies too, and we will discover whether severe malaria occurs when a dangerous parasite strain infects a susceptible host causing an excessive immune response, harming the ....One factor that determines whether some children die of malaria is the type of protein that the parasite expresses on the red blood cell, to help it stick in blood vessels. Our new data suggests that some proteins stimulate excessive host immune response, possibly leading to severe malaria. People's immne response to malaria varies too, and we will discover whether severe malaria occurs when a dangerous parasite strain infects a susceptible host causing an excessive immune response, harming the child.Read moreRead less
Analysing the protective role of platelets during malaria infection. Platelets protect the host during malarial infection. This project aims to study how platelets kill the malaria parasite by investigating the role of host molecules and their potential as novel antimalarial agents. The role of platelets in the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria syndrome will also be investigated.