Pathogenisis and Clinical Studies

• Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena's team has developed a genetically-modified mosquito that is impaired for parasite transmission. They are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms by which the malaria parasite moves in the mosquito to allow transmission from one vertebrate host to another.
    
• A major focus in Nirbhay Kumar's laboratory is investigating molecular mechanisms involved in the differentiation and development of sexual stages of the parasite leading to mosquito infection and malaria transmission with the goal of developing a transmission-blocking vaccine.
   
• David Sullivan and Monique Stins are collaborating on a human brain endothelial model of cerebral malaria to elucidate the effects of the malaria parasite on endothelium cells.  His laboratory is also extending the work on placental trophoblasts and erythrocytes.
   
  
  David Sullivan in collaboration with Sheila West and J. Stephen Dumler are evaluating the effects of mass drug administration of azithromycin for trachoma on incidence of malaria in Tanzania.
  
  David Sullivan, Ron Gray and Heena Brahmbhatt are investigating the effect of placental malaria on HIV transmission during pregnancy.
  
  
  David Sullivan, David Sack, Doug Norris, Greg Glass and Myaing Nyunt are working with colleagues in Bangladesh at the ICDDR,B to map the epidemiology of malaria in both humans and mosquitoes.
   
• Fidel Zavala's  work is focused on the dual role of CD8+ T cells as anti-parasite effectors and regulators, using the Plasmodium yoelii system in mice.  Understanding the nature of immune response to malaria infection will facilitate vaccine development.