Identification of vaccine candidates for malaria and babesiosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of proteins essential for red blood cell invasion by Plasmodium and Babesia pathogens and study of their vaccine potential.
IRAS ID
289742
Contact name
Ellen Knuepfer
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Royal Veterinary College
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Malaria is a life-threatening human disease caused by the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites in red blood cells. In 2018, 218 million cases had been reported resulting in 405,000 deaths, the majority, in children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria has plagued mankind for millennia, despite this no commercially licensed vaccine is available. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and control strategies rely on the control of the insect vector, as well as the use of anti-malarial drugs to treat patients. Drug resistance however is spreading, both amongst the parasite as well as the mosquito, which could cause a world-wide rise in this devastating disease.
Babesiosis is a human disease closely related to malaria also caused by parasites (Babesia) which replicate in red blood cells. It is transmitted by ticks and shows disease symptoms similar to malaria. However, unlike malaria, human babesiosis is only fatal in immune-compromised or elderly patients.
Babesiosis is also a problem in cattle, sheep and dogs, in which it often is fatal. Locally acquired babesiosis cases in dogs, cattle and recently one human case have been reported in the UK. Babesiosis is the most common transfusion-transmitted disease in the USA, with blood donations not routinely screened for this pathogen.My group at the Royal Veterinary College seeks to study the molecular interactions of Plasmodium and Babesia with red blood cells. This includes how these two parasites enter and exit red blood cells, the adaptations the two parasites have evolved to achieve this and how they modify host cells. Ultimately, we aim to design vaccines and drugs to prevent the multiplication phase of the parasite and the transmission to the insect vector. For maintenance of the parasite we do require the use of human red blood cells which will be supplied as surplus, anonymised donations by the NHSBT at cost-price.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0085
Date of REC Opinion
14 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion