Novel Serological Tools To Aid Malaria Elimination In The Asia-Pacific
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,362,749.00
Summary
In 2014 Asia-Pacific leaders pledged a malaria free Asia-Pacific by 2030. We will contribute to this goal by developing novel antibody detection tests that can identify people with current and recent past infections. We will then evaluate the utility of these tests both in mass screening and treatment programs and for the rapid delineation of areas where transmission persists from those where it has been eliminated. This will address two major roadblocks to malaria elimination in our region.
Conquering Schistosomiasis In China: The Last Mile
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,432,780.00
Summary
Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia), caused by Schistosoma bloodflukes, is an ancient disease in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). After decades of control, the Chinese authorities have slated their intention to eliminate the disease by 2020. However, current diagnostic methods underestimate the true infection rates so we contend this target is unattainable. Supplementation of current control measures with additional public health interventions will be required to achieve the goal of elimination.
Understanding Immune Regulation During Parasitic Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,010.00
Summary
Chronic infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and leishmaniasis are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. They are all characterised by severe immune dysfunction. We will study a parasitic infection to identify important immune cell populations and molecules that promote chronic infectious disease. This knowledge will enable the development of better treatments and vaccines for range of infectious diseases that affect people in many parts of the world.
The Differential Contribution Of Programmed Death-1 Ligands To Malarial Immunity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,784.00
Summary
This research aims to understand how the Malaria parasite, which causes one of the world’s deadliest diseases, evades immunity. It will provide a significant advance in our knowledge of immunity against malaria and impact on current strategies to develop an efficacious vaccine or treatment for malaria.
The Immune Modulatory Function Of Chondroitin Sulphate A In Placental Malaria: Protecting The Fetus, Promoting The Parasite?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$529,206.00
Summary
Pregnant women and their babies are susceptible to placental malaria infection. Malaria parasites infect the placenta by binding to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA). CSA levels increase in normal pregnancy. Studies suggest that CSA can suppress immune cell function. This study will look at the immune modulating function of CSA during pregnancy and placental malaria. CSA may act as camouflage, hiding the malaria parasite from immune cells. This may be a novel immune evasion pathway.
System-based Approaches To Inform The Design Of Immunotherapies And Immunodiagnostics Against Chronic Pathogens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,540.00
Summary
Chronic infectious diseases such as malaria are responsible for an enormous public health burden worldwide. New approaches to develop effective interventions against such pathogens are urgently required. Over the next 5 years, I will use innovative genome-based and systems-levels approaches to discover novel pathogen antigens and host immune pathways that underlie protective immunity, immunomodulatory pathways that can be then targeted for intervention, and biomarkers of immunity or disease.
The extraordinary virulence of malaria parasites is in part due to their ability to export hundreds of proteins into their host cell to obtain nutrients and avoid the immune system. Recently the investigator has discovered the machinery that provides the gateway for these proteins to enter the host cell. She now aims to characterise this machinery and dissect its functional significance in vivo, so that strategies that block this crucial process can be developed to kill the 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
OptiMalVax: Optimizing A Deployable High Efficacy Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,618.00
Summary
In this proposal, a consortium comprising many of the leading malariologists, vaccine researchers and product developers in Europe, USA, Australia and Africa will collaborate in an exciting programme of antigen discovery science linked to rapid clinical development of new vaccine candidates against malaria.
Molecular dissection of malaria parasite motility and host-cell invasion across the lifecycle. Malaria parasites move in a unique way, gliding across cell surfaces and infecting host cells using a unique molecular motor. This research aims to understand the molecular mechanics behind parasite movement and use this to develop novel drugs that might throw a spanner in the parasite motor, blocking movement and thereby preventing malaria disease.