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.
Antibodies To The Invasion Ligand EBA175 And Protection From Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,792.00
Summary
Malaria causes disease and death by invading into human red blood cells and it achieves this by using specific parasite proteins. One of these, erythrocyte binding antigen 175 (EBA175), is especially important and parasites have evolved different versions of the protein. This project seeks to understand the importance of these different EBA175 variants in evading antibody responses. This has important implications in understanding natural immunity but also for future vaccine development.
Identification And Development Of Proteins Which Interact With The Innate Immune System As Malaria Vaccine Candidates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$299,564.00
Summary
Parasites causing malaria live inside red blood cells. Some human proteins act in a chain reaction to destroy infected cells. Although these proteins recognise parasite-infected cells and the chain reaction starts, the infected cells are not destroyed due to parasite proteins which inhibit the human proteins. A vaccine could induce antibodies which block the parasite proteins inhibiting the human proteins so the immune system can function normally and kill infected cells, thus stopping malaria.
Plasmodium vivax is a parasite that invades the youngest of human red blood cells. Our work will reveal how this malaria parasite enters our blood cells and the molecular mechanisms that allows successful invasion. This proposal will redefine our understanding of P. vivax invasion and explore novel ways to block its entry into red blood cells and therefore prevent malaria infection.
This an integrated program of basic research on antigen discovery and immune mechanisms, and preclinical research on novel vaccine platforms, formulations or delivery systems for the rational design and clinical testing of a next generation vaccine against malaria. This interdisciplinary research fosters strong national and international links and offers the potential for significant economic benefit to Australia.
Insights Into The Biology Of The Carcinogenic Blood Fluke, Schistosoma Haematobium – A First Response To The Wake-up Call
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Schistosoma haematobium is a seriously neglected parasite that infects > 100 million people. Chronic infection severely affects the urino-genital system and causes malignant bladder cancer. Advanced technologies will be used to explore, for the first time, the molecular biology of this parasite, design new strategies to fight this insidious pathogen and understand how it induces cancer.
Malaria infects millions of people worldwide causing serious morbidity and mortality. However, individuals do not develop natural immunity to malaria even after years of exposure to the parasite. There have be a multitude of attempts to make a vaccine , with products going to clinical trials, but no vaccine is able to provide adequate protection for the long term. We recently showed that Plasmodium had evolved a mechanism to kill cells that protect in the long-term. This study will investigate t ....Malaria infects millions of people worldwide causing serious morbidity and mortality. However, individuals do not develop natural immunity to malaria even after years of exposure to the parasite. There have be a multitude of attempts to make a vaccine , with products going to clinical trials, but no vaccine is able to provide adequate protection for the long term. We recently showed that Plasmodium had evolved a mechanism to kill cells that protect in the long-term. This study will investigate the mechanism by which the parasite kill these cells, so that novel therapies can be designed.Read moreRead less
We will investigate malaria, a parasitic disease that kills over 2 million people a year. We will explore how the parasite identifies, invades and remodels the host cells in which it lives, scavenging nutrients and hiding from the immune system. We will characterize the proteins involved in these critical events, as they are potential targets for drugs and vaccines. We will study how parasites cause disease and how the host responds to infection.
Development Of A Safe Live Genetically Attenuated Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$822,191.00
Summary
Malaria presents an enormous global health problem, and also has a significant impact on social and economic development in countries where the disease is endemic. Our project will produce a live genetically-modified vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the form of malaria mostly deadly to humans. Our development plan will include the first ever clinical trials of a malaria vaccine of this kind and will look at vaccine safety and effectiveness.
Formulation Of A Pan-species, Multi-stage Vaccine For The Malaria Eradication Agenda
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$777,611.00
Summary
GNT 1093311 entitled 'Formulation of a pan-species, multi-stage vaccine for the malaria eradication agenda' seeks to undertake the preclinical development of a saccharide conjugate vaccine directed towards all major species and stages of malaria. The objectives are: (i) to undertake the synthesis of the vaccine construct; (ii) to compare immunogenicity, formulation and efficacy of various vaccine constructs with a view to down-selecting the optimal combination to take to human clinical trial.