The Renovators Dream: Malaria host cell remodelling
- Research Opportunity
- PhD students, Masters by Research, Honours students
- Number of Honour Places Available
- 1
- Number of Master Places Available
- 1
- Department / Centre
- Infectious Diseases
- Location
- Royal Melbourne Hospital
Primary Supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Dr Matthew Dixon | matthew.dixon@unimelb.edu.au | Personal web page |
Co-supervisor | Number | Webpage | |
---|---|---|---|
Prof James McCarthy | james.mccarthy@unimelb.edu.au | Personal web page |
Summary Our laboratory investigates the cellular mechanisms underpinning malaria parasite transmission and disease. We investigate the novel banana shaped sexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum, focused on understanding their unique biology and how this contributes to transmission. We are interested in developing and testing drugs and vaccines that may block transmission of the parasite from infected humans to Anopheles mosquitos.
Project Details
The ability of the malaria parasite, to survive within the host relies on its ability to renovate its RBC home. This renovation is facilitated by the export of proteins into the host cell, where they modify the RBCs properties making them rigid and prone to clearance by the spleen. To avoid clearance the parasite builds a multi-protein complex at the RBC surface called the virulence complex consisting of the knob protein KAHRP and the adhesin (PfEMP1). We are interested in understanding how this complex is assembled and defining its molecular structure.
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Research Opportunities
PhD students, 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
Royal Melbourne HospitalMDHS Research library
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