RESEARCH ADVANCES IN MALARIA - May 28-29, 2009

Cell Biology of Malaria:  Understanding Infections, Targeting Intervention 

THURSDAY, MAY 28

 8:00        Welcome   Sommer Hall  - Peter Agre, Alan Cowman, Patrick Duffy 

SESSION I   Vesicular Trafficking    Moderators: Louis Miller & Isabelle Coppens

8:15        Alan Cowman,  The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
               The export and function of proteins into the Plasmodium falciparum-infected human erythrocytes

8:55        Kasturi Haldar, University of Notre Dame
               The malaria secretome: from algorithms to essential functions

9:35        Jude Przyborski, Philipps University Marburg
               Protein transport into and across the parasitophorous vacuole of Plasmodium falciparum

9:50        BREAK   Feinstone Hall

10:20     Leann Tilley,  La Trobe University
              High resolution imaging of trafficking processes in P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes

11:00     Marcus Lee, Columbia University
              Dissecting the role of a minimal ESCRT complex in endosomal sorting in Plasmodium falciparum

11:15     Gordon Langsley, Institut Cochin, INSERM
              Rab11A-controlled assembly of the inner membrane complex is required for completion of apicomplexan cytokinesis

11:30     Isabelle Coppens, Johns Hopkins University
           Insights into the mechanisms of organelle clearance in Plasmodium during metamorphosis in liver cells

SESSION II   Transcriptional Control Moderators: Alan Cowman & David Sullivan

 1:00       Andrew Waters, University of Glasgow
               Post-transcriptional control of gene expression in sexual development in Plasmodium

1:40        Artur Scherf, Institut Pasteur
               Epigenetic control of phenotypic variation in malaria parasites

2:20        Kim Williamson, Loyola University Chicago
               Subcellular localization of P. falciparum Gametocytogenesis Inducer 1, PfGYI1

2:35        Manuel Llinás, Princeton University
               The role of the Plasmodium ApiAP2 proteins in transcriptional regulation

3:15        Shobhona Sharma, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
               Single cell measurement of membrane deformability with fluorescence, fluid forces and optical trapping

3:30-5:30    POSTER SESSION   Feinstone Hall

FRIDAY, MAY 29

SESSION III   Metabolism Modertors: Irwin Sherman & Sean Prigge

8:15        Geoff McFadden, University of Melbourne
               The relict plastid of malaria parasites: function & therapeutic potential

8:55        David Fidock, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
               Defining a key role for fatty acid biosynthesis in the development of malarial parasite liver stages

9:35        Sean Prigge, Johns Hopkins University
               Make it or take it: the role of lipoate in malaria

9:50        Audrey Odom, Washington University School of Medicine
               Understanding inositol metabolism in P falciparum

10:05      BREAK    Feinstone Hall

10:35      Stefan Kappe, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
               Designer malaria parasites: implications for biology and live attenuated  vaccine development

11:15      Kiaran Kirk, The Australian National University
               Membrane transport proteins: physiology and drug resistance

11:55      David Sullivan, Johns Hopkins University
               The double-edged sword of malaria iron metabolism

12:10      Akhil Vaidya, Drexel University College of Medicine
               Insights into targeting mitochondrial functions by antimalarial drugs

SESSION IV   Tissue and Cell Tropism   Moderators: Thomas Wellems & Patrick Duffy     

1:25        Patrick Duffy, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
               Cell biology of placental malaria: 3 organisms, 3 perspectives

2:05        Robert Ménard, Institut Pasteur
               The skin step of the malaria life cycle

2:45        Photini Sinnis, New York University School of Medicine
               Release of TRAP from the sporozoite surface by a rhomboid protease is required for normal gliding 
               motility and efficient invasion of target organs

3:00        BREAK   Feinstone Hall

3:30        Michael Blackman, National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill
               Proteolytic pathways in malaria parasite egress

4:10        Joseph Smith, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute
               Deciphering the Plasmodium falciparum cytoadhesion phenotype: searching for constants among variants

4:50        Con Beckers, University of North Carolina
               Organization and assembly of the Toxoplasma myosin XIV motor complex

5:05        Jürgen Bosch, Johns Hopkins University
               Molecular insights into the invasion machinery of the malaria parasite

5:20        Closing Remarks Peter Agre