Understanding, tracking and eliminating malaria transmission in the Asia – Pacific Region

Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to identify and characterize critical steps in malaria transmission cycle and thereby gain a better understanding of parasite, host and vector factors that contribute to continued transmission in the context of intensive national malaria control and elimination programs.

• In the Epidemiology Project, spatio-temporal patterns of risk of malaria infection and disease will be investigated through a combination of large cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies that combine excellent epidemiological study designs with state-of-the-art molecular detection and genotyping of Plasmodium spp. infections and an assessment of host immune responses and their link to exposure and clinical protection. The information thus gained will be used to evaluate improved surveillance strategies through an innovative combination of computer simulations and field application.
• The Transmission Project will use direct membrane feeding assay as a xenodiagnostic tool to determine the infective reservoir as each site and investigate host, parasite and host factors that contribute to sustaining endemic transmission at each site. In addition, they will study patterns of human-vector contact in low transmission settings by investigating human antibodies to anopheline salivary protein as marker exposure to mosquito bites. A key question in both studies is how artemisinin and partner drug resistance affects parasite fitness both in chronic asymptomatic infections and transmissibility.
• Finally, the P. vivax Relapse Project will specifically address the role of relapsing infections from long-lasting liver stages in the increased resilience of P. vivax against control and elimination.