Dormant Plasmodium vivax (liver-stage) parasites
Multi-Omics Characterization of Plasmodium Vivax Hypnozoites
This project uses advanced molecular tests to learn how P. vivax hides in the liver and could help people at risk for relapsing malaria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237113 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will apply transcriptomic, epigenomic, and lipidomic analyses to samples from non-human primates and lab-grown human liver cells infected with patient-derived P. vivax sporozoites. The team will map parasite and host molecular signals that control when the parasite becomes dormant in the liver, how dormancy is maintained, and what triggers reactivation. They will also characterize how infected liver cells and the whole organism respond to infection. The results are intended to guide development of better vaccines and treatments to prevent relapsing P. vivax malaria.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with recent P. vivax infection or residents/travelers in P. vivax-endemic areas who can provide blood samples or consent to sample collection for parasite isolation.
Not a fit: People not exposed to P. vivax, those with other malaria species, or anyone needing immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable new vaccines or drugs that prevent P. vivax relapses by targeting the dormant liver stage.
How similar studies have performed: Profiling P. vivax hypnozoites at this multi-omics scale is relatively novel, though similar omics methods have yielded insights for other infectious diseases.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Serre, David — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Serre, David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.