How malaria parasites switch the proteins they show to hide from the immune system
A structured transcriptional switching network that coordinates antigenic variation by malaria parasites
Researchers are mapping how Plasmodium falciparum changes the proteins on infected red blood cells so future vaccines or drugs for people at risk, especially young children in Africa, can work better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163209 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I or my child were affected by malaria, the team is studying the malaria parasite in the lab to learn how it turns different var genes on and off to change the proteins on infected red blood cells. They look at the parasite's gene activity and the molecular switches that control which PfEMP1 proteins are produced. The work uses lab-grown parasites and molecular tools to trace the transcriptional network that coordinates these switches and to link specific changes to how the parasite avoids antibodies. Findings may come from parasite samples tied to the severe infections most common in young children and pregnant women in malaria-endemic regions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with active Plasmodium falciparum infection—particularly children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa—or donors who can provide parasite-containing blood samples would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate treatment or those with other illnesses (including non-falciparum malaria) are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from this lab-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new vaccine or drug targets that stop the parasite from hiding and reduce severe malaria cases in children and pregnant women.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have defined var genes and the role of PfEMP1 in disease, but translating those findings into effective vaccines or therapies has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deitsch, Kirk W — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Deitsch, Kirk W
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.