Identification and characterisation of novel malarial transmission-blocking antigens
- Research Opportunity
- Masters by Research, Honours students
- Department / Centre
- Microbiology and Immunology
- Location
- Doherty Institute
Primary Supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Associate Professor Siddhartha Mahanty | smahanty@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 1972 | Personal web page |
Co-supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Professor Stephen Rogerson | sroger@unimelb.edu.au | (03) 8344 3259 | Personal web page |
Summary We propose to characterise the sexual stage Ab targets in Plasmodium falciparum, the cause of the most severe form of malaria, and to better understand the properties of Abs that confer transmission blocking immunity (TBI).
Project Details
How do antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes induce transmission blocking immunity? Immunity against the sexual stage, that underpin transmission-blocking vaccines (TBV) directed at parasite molecules expressed in the gametocyte through to ookinete stages, are not well-understood. Antibodies (Ab) directed against these molecules are likely be crucial for transmission blocking immunity (TBI). We propose to characterise the sexual stage Ab targets in Plasmodium falciparum, the cause of the most severe form of malaria, and to better understand the properties of Abs that confer TBI. The goals of this project are to identify previously unidentified antigens and functionally characterise anti-gametocyte antibodies in sera from malaria-infected individuals that mediate TBI using biochemical and immunological techniques.
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Research Opportunities
Masters by Research, Honours students
Students who are interested in joining this project will need to consider their elegibility as well as other requirements before contacting the supervisor of this research
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact a supervisor.
Department / Centre
Research Node
Doherty InstituteMDHS Research library
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