Identification and characterisation of novel malarial transmission-blocking antigens

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.