Project: Antibodies that protect against severe malaria infection
Rogerson Group
The parasite which causes malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, causes millions of people to be sick each year and many of them die. We are identifying the targets and features of antibody responses that can protect against severe malaria in young children. We have established assays to perform Systems Serology analyses of antibody immunity, including identification of the targets of antibody and the types of antibody response important for protection. This project will involve measuring antibody feature/s in plasma from children with and without severe disease and associating it with clinical outcomes. Antibody features of interest include antibody isotype and subclass, and engagement of Fc receptors and complement both in plate-based assays and using white blood cells, including neutrophils monocytes and NK cells. Techniques may include ELISAs and other plate-based assays, malaria parasite culture, white blood cell isolation, flow cytometry and statistical analysis.
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Rogerson Group
3 vacancies
The Rogerson laboratory studies immunity to severe malaria in pregnant women and young children. We are identifying the targets and features of antibody responses that can protect against severe malaria in young children or against placental malaria. We have established assays to perform Systems Serology analyses of antibody immunity, including identification of the targets of antibody and the types of antibody response important for protection. These include antibody isotype and subclass, and engagement of Fc receptors and complement both in plate-based assays and using white blood cells, including neutrophils monocytes and NK cells. We are establishing assays of antibody glycosylation.
Rogerson Group Current Projects
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Antibodies that protect against severe malaria infection
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
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Malaria and our immune system
Honours
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Characterising monoclonal antibodies to malaria antigen VAR2CSA
PhD/MPhil, Master of Biomedical Science, Honours
Research degrees at the Doherty Institute are administered by the University of Melbourne.