Last Updated: 31/01/2025
Investigating the conservation, function and vaccine potential of DBLepsilon and DBLzeta domains of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1)
Objectives
This study will explore the serum-binding P. falciparum proteins by examining their conservation and function while also producing antibodies from these proteins and testing for activity against diverse P. falciparum samples.
Every year, the malaria-causing agent Plasmodium falciparum results in over 400,000 deaths and 200 million clinical cases in humans. These outcomes have negative socio-economic implications in malaria-endemic regions of the world and thus require urgent interventions such as vaccines. During infection, P. falciparum attacks and multiplies in human red blood cells. Of importance, the parasite alters the infected red blood cell surface by expressing its own proteins. These P. falciparum derived proteins mediate binding to various tissues, uninfected red blood cells and serum proteins – leading to severe disease outcomes. Interestingly, preliminary evidence suggests that P. falciparum derived proteins (known as DBLepsilon and DBLzeta) that bind to serum proteins are conserved across the global P. falciparum population. This offers the possibility of developing a vaccine against severe malaria. This study will provide insight into the viability of the serum-binding P. falciparum derived proteins as potential vaccine candidates for protection against severe malaria.
Oct 2021 — Sep 2024
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