Cellular dissection of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte invasion

Plasmodium falciparum parasites still cause nearly half a million deaths each year. The repeated emergence of antimalarial drug resistance and the lack of a highly effective vaccine mean that there is an urgent need to identify new intervention targets. Erythrocyte invasion is an excellent target as it is essential for both parasite survival and for malaria pathology. Invasion involves multiple parasite ligands, but little is known about their function at the cellular level and even less about how they fit into the broader network of invasion proteins. This proposal will revolutionise the understanding of the function of two families of P. falciparum invasion ligands, the EBLs and the RHs, that are together responsible for the key decision point in the invasion process. The proposal will provide a step change for the field, both biologically and technically, and will identify new candidates for testing in a rationally designed, multi-component invasion-blocking vaccine.

Basic Science

Jan 2021 — Dec 2025

$2.96M

United Kingdom