Malaria parasite interactions with human red blood cells
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Studying host-parasite interactions between human malaria parasites and red blood cells in order to identify and prioritise new antimalarial drug and vaccine targets
IRAS ID
279476
Contact name
Julian C Rayner
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Duration of Study in the UK
18 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
Malaria is an infectious disease of humans caused by parasitic protozoans (a type of unicellular microorganism) belonging to the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium parasites are transmitted by the bite from an infected female mosquito, which introduces the organisms from its saliva into a person's circulatory (blood) system. Following maturation in the liver, parasites infect human red blood cells (RBCs), where they multiply and spread between RBCs, causing a range of severe complications. Malaria symptoms include fever and headache, but can progress to coma or death in severe cases. Malaria is a significant global health burden and many populations at risk have access to only basic healthcare provision. An estimated 228 million cases and 405,000 deaths from malaria occurred worldwide in 2018 (WHO World Malaria Report 2019).
The objective of our lab is to understand how human-infective malaria parasites recognise, invade and then manipulate human red blood cells. Understanding these processes will help identify and prioritise new antimalarial drug and vaccine targets. To carry out this work we need to culture malaria parasites in our lab. This allows us to follow parasite growth their life cycle using microscopy and other techniques, and also to modify specific parasite genes using experimental genetics and genome engineering to understand their function.
All of this work requires human RBCs because malaria parasites can’t grow and multiple outside of human cells. The RBCs serve as the vehicle in which the parasites are cultured and as such a regular supply of RBCs and other blood products is essential to carry out all the research in our lab. We have confirmed we can purchase RBCs from NHSBT. Health and Safety and Genetic Modification aspects of this work are covered by submissions to and oversight by our local Safety Committee and by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0100
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion