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Blocking malaria parasite transmission

Hosted by: Dr Gaetan Burgio

Abstract

Mosquitoes are among the world's deadliest animals. Malaria alone causes over 600,000 deaths annually and is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. The dramatic population bottleneck that malaria parasites experience within mosquitoes creates a strategic opportunity to prevent disease spread by targeting this vulnerable developmental stage. Transmission-blocking interventions that disrupt parasite development and fertilization can prevent infected mosquitoes from transmitting disease to humans. Breaking this transmission cycle represents a critical strategy for malaria elimination programs. Using cryo-electron microscopy, transgenic parasite lines, nanobodies and mRNA vaccines, we have identified a novel transmission blocking vaccine candidate. 

Biography

Professor Wai-Hong Tham received her PhD from Princeton University and is an Elizabeth Blackburn NHMRC Investigator L2. She currently holds a joint appointment at the Infection and Global Health Division at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and at the Research School of Biology at ANU. Her lab has made fundamental discoveries in novel host-pathogen interactions and examined their molecular and structural mechanisms to drive rational design of new therapies against malaria. The overarching aim is to rationally design and generate new inhibitors or antibodies that block these interactions and stop recurrent malaria infection in humans and block transmission from mosquitoes. Her work intersects with the fields of structural biology, nanobody technology, immuno-epidemiology and molecular parasitology. For her contribution to understanding malaria parasite biology, she has received the 2023 Bancroft-Mackerras Medal, 2020 International Award Biochemistry Society, 2019 and 2011 Eureka Prize for Infectious Diseases Research (team prize) and the 2017 David Syme Research Prize.