Malaria Research Conference - Monday, March 17, 2008

8:30 Welcome                                                               Peter Agre
                                                                         Dean Michael Klag 

Session I. Parasite Biology                          George Dimopoulos
                                                                                    Moderator
 
8:40  From genes to drugs and vaccines: Designing          David Roos
         and mining pathogen genome databases 
 
9:10   Genetic diversity in Plasmodium falciparum       Sarah Volkman

9:40   New insights into P. falciparum invasion             Brendan Crabb
          and post-invasion events
  
10:10  Break 
  
10:40  Antigenic variation through gene silencing,             Kirk Deitsch 
          activation and cellular memory 

11:10  The circumsporozoite protein revisited:                 Photini Sinnis
          New insights based on mutational analysis

11:40  Indirect aminoacylation in the apicoplast           Malcolm Gardner 

12:10  Lunch  
  
1:30    Keynote Address
          Cell binding determinants of virulence               Thomas Wellems 
          in malaria 

2:15    Industrialization of malaria research: Using      Elizabeth Winzeler 
           a systems-based approach to understand 
           parasite biology 

Session II. Parasite / Vector                                      Jason Rasgon
                                                                                          Moderator 

2:45    How does Plasmodium evade the                Carolina Barillas-Mury 
          mosquito’s immune system? 

3:15    Plasmodium development in the mosquito               Oliver Billker
           blood meal 

3:45    Molecular interactions between the             Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena 
           mosquito and the malaria parasite 

4:15     Break 

4:45     Is there a future for non-insecticidal malaria                Bart Knols 
            vector control?   
       
5:15     Complement-like antimalaria responses in            Elena Levashina 
            A. gambiae 

5:45     Genetically modified mosquitoes and the                 Charles Taylor 
            Concorde: Is it time for reevaluation? 

6:30     Posters, wine and hors d’oeuvres reception
   
____________________________________________________________

Tuesday, March 18

8:00     Continental Breakfast  

Session III. Pathogenesis and Immunity                    Susan Kraemer
                                                                                              Moderator 

8:30     Mechanism of placental malaria cytoadherence:        Channe Gowda 
           What is known and what remains to be resolved? 
  
9:00     Functional characterization of human monoclonal              Lars Hviid 
           antibodies specific for PfEMP1 involved in the 
           pathogenesis of pregnancy-associated malaria 

9:30     Functional properties of effector memory                       Fidel Zavala
           CD8+ T cells against malaria liver stages 

10:00    Break 

10:30    Nitric oxide, arginine, and severe malaria              J. Brice Weinberg 

11:00    Immunization to target parasite development            Nirbhay Kumar 
            in the mosquito   

11:30    Lunch 

Session IV. Treatment and Control                                   Sean Prigge  
                                                                                              Moderator 

1:00     Insights into targeting mitochondrial functions                Akhil Vaidya 
            by antimalarial drugs 

1:30     Characterization of a potential drug target:               Daniel Goldberg 
            Plasmodium calpain

2:00     Quinoline drug resistance in the malarial parasite             Paul Roepe 
            P. falciparum: Pharmacology, physiology and fitness 

2:30     Break  

3:00     Introduction to PlasmoDB                                              Brian Brunk 

4:00     Adjourn General Session

4:30 -   PlasmoDB Workshop                                                  Brian Brunk
5:30

4:30 -   JHMRI External Advisory Board meeting 
6:00