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Commitment, maturation and infectivity of sexual stage malaria parasites in natural infections

Objective

Background: One of the major challenges for malaria control and elimination is the phenomenally efficient spread of malaria through sexual stage malaria parasites (gametocytes). The epidemiology and dynamics of gametocytes are poorly understood: it is presently unknown when commitment to gametocytes first occurs during infections and what intrinsic or extrinsic factors influence gametocyte production and infectivity to mosquitoes.
I hypothesize that continuous early commitment to gametocyte production and the preferential sequestration of mature gametocytes in the subdermal vasculature are key to explaining the high efficiency of malaria transmission.
Aim: This proposal has three main aims: i) to determine when commitment to gametocyte production first occurs during experimental and natural infections; ii) to delineate environmental triggers that stimulate gametocyte production in the absence and presence of treatment; iii) to quantify the differential distribution of parasite developmental stages in different compartments of the human bloodstream.
Approach: We will use novel parasite stage composition assays in combination with epidemiological methods to determine the dynamics of gametocyte commitment and maturation during controlled malaria infections in malaria-naive volunteers and during naturally acquired malaria infections in cohorts exposed to malaria in Burkina Faso. A stage-specific immunohistochemistry assay will, for the first time, directly quantify malaria stage composition in the subdermal vasculature and mosquito bloodmeals and allow comparison with other compartments of the circulation.
Importance and Innovation: This is the first study to comprehensively characterize gametocyte commitment, maturation and infectivity in experimental and natural infections. This proposal will provide insight in one of the most important questions for malaria elimination: what processes are responsible for the phenomenally efficient transmission of malaria.

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ERC-STG - Starting Grant

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(opens in new window) ERC-2014-STG

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Host institution

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 345 000,00
Address
HOUTLAAN 4
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands

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Region
Oost-Nederland Gelderland Arnhem/Nijmegen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 345 000,00

Beneficiaries (3)

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