Development of Novel antimalarial drugs
- Research Opportunity
- PhD, Masters by Research, Honours
- Department
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Location
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
| Primary Supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professor Leann Tilley | ltilley@unimelb.edu.au | 0383442227 | Personal web page |
Project Details
Would you like to help develop new antimalarial drugs? Each year, Plasmodium falciparum causes more than 200 million cases of malaria, and about 438,000 deaths. Because current antimalarial control is highly dependent on artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs), it is extremely concerning that decreased sensitivity has emerged to all currently used ACTs. In response to this impending crisis, the peak body, Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), has declared that novel targets for antimalarial therapies need to be identified and new drugs developed.
As an organism that undergoes rapid growth and cell division in an environment of high oxidative stress, the malaria parasite is very reliant on cellular remodelling processes. Two major pathways degrade cellular components in eukaryotic cells: the proteasome system and autophagy. In this Project, we will study these two pathways in Plasmodium to elucidate their roles, determine how their activities intersect and study the action of test inhibitors. This work will provide the basis for the development of new drugs.
The project will use molecular biology, live cell imaging, flow cytometry and biochemical methods.
