Science, Technology and Engineering

Klonis Laboratory

Department of Biochemistry

Research - Malaria & Quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy 

The malaria parasite spends part of its lifecycle within the red blood cell where it grows and modifies many of the features of its host. Fluorescence microscopy offers a useful "window" for examining the biology of the parasite in live cells. Fluorescence images generally provide spatial and concentration information (ie where does the fluorescent compound localise and how bright are these structures?). However, considerably more information can be obtained by looking at the fluorescence in different ways. For example, we are deploying a variety of fluorescence photobleaching methodologies in transfected parasites expressing GFP-fusion proteins to investigate the state of association of these molecules and the nature of the compartments to which they are targeted. This work in performed in collaboration with Professor Leann Tilley .

Using fluorescent lipid probes, we are developing spectral and polarisation imaging methods that will permit us to examine the different membrane environments within an infected erythrocyte and to follow changes that occur during the growth of the parasite. In addition, we are developing approaches that will permit us to examine oxidative-stress induced alterations of the host erythrocyte by the parasite during its growth.