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Maier LaboratoryDepartment of BiochemistryResearch - Molecular Mechanisms of Malaria Pathogenesis
The focus of Dr. Maier's research is the identification of proteins involved in malaria pathogenesis and the elucidation of their function through biochemical, molecular and cell biological means. Malaria - the problem
Malaria in humans is caused by 4 species of single-celled Plasmodium parasites, of which Plasmodium falciparum causes the most serious disease. Malaria is found in other animals as diverse as monkeys, mice, bats, penguins or lizards, caused by a wide range of different Plasmodium species. Immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria takes years to develop and is never complete. The repertoire of effective anti-malarial drugs is dwindling due to emergence and spread of drug resistance. Therefore the demand for effective, safe, affordable and easy to administer intervention strategies is higher than ever before. Plasmodium falciparum - the organism
Plasmodium falciparum is not only the causative agent of the most severe form of malaria, but also a fascinating and intriguing organism. Some of its interesting hallmark features are: * Alternating host environments: By alternating between the mosquito and the human body the malaria parasite is facing completely different environments. The exposure to different temperature, different osmotic pressures,different nutrients and immune systems requires a fair amount of adaptation from the parasite. * Developmental stages: Just in the human body alone the parasite transforms from stages that infect the liver, stages that infect red blood cells and sexual stages. * The classical clinical symptom of malaria consists of periodical fever bouts that coincide with the parasites bursting out of the red blood cells. The parasites have then to find new red blood cells involving mechanisms for host cell recognition and invasion. Once inside the red blood cell the malaria parasite modifies the host cell to suit its needs. Moreover Plasmodium proteins (including virulence factors) are being exported beyond the confinement of its own plasma membrane, transported through the red blood cell and displayed on the surface of the red blood cell membrane. The infrastructure for the transport of these molecules through the red blood cell is provided by the parasite. Studies of these features will provide both insights into the biological system per se and identification ofchemotherapy targets toassist the combat against malaria. Research focusThe projects in our group revolve around the following areas: 1. Function of molecular chaperones in the export and display of parasite proteins
2. Erythrocyte membrane modifications during malaria infection
3. Molecular tools to reveal protein function and identify drug targets Advances in malaria research are hindered by the relatively small inventory of available molecular tools. Culturing and genetic manipulation are quite demanding and cumbersome in comparison to other organisms. Major discoveries very often go hand in hand with the application and development of new techniques. We strive to make a contribution to the repertoire of available techniques.
Collaborators on these projects include Dr Melanie Rug, Prof. Alan Cowman (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne), Dr Nick Klonis and Prof. Leann Tilley (La Trobe University). Content Approved by: Head of Department
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Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted from person to person through the bite of a female mosquito. Over 40% of the world's population is at risk and there are at least 500 million cases of acute malaria each year. The majority of fatalities are children under the age of 5 - every 30 seconds a child dies of a malaria infection. The estimated economic burden of malaria for Africa alone is more than US$12 billion annually. Despite large-scale international efforts of malaria eradication, the number of cases has dramatically increased over the last decades. 
