Project description
Gametocytes as a reservoir of the malaria parasites in human hosts
The malaria parasite gametocytes are the precursors of male and female gametes in the human host, formed through the developmental switch from asexual replication in erythrocytes. Gametocytes differentiate into male and female gametes in mosquito’s midgut, and after complete sexual reproduction, mature sporozoites accumulate in the vector's salivary gland, ready to be inoculated into a new host. Many individuals in the endemic areas harbour low but transmissible gametocyte densities. The EU-funded QUANTUM project will significantly improve understanding of the production and infectivity of gametocytes and the epidemiological impact of human immune responses. The work in different selected settings in Africa will provide a major advancement in understanding the human infectious reservoir for malaria and will have direct implications for disease elimination.
Objective
Background: A major challenge for malaria elimination is its phenomenally efficient spread through sexual stage parasites (gametocytes). Many individuals in endemic settings harbour low but transmissible gametocyte densities. It is currently unclear how gametocyte density translates into the likelihood that an infected mosquito gives rise to secondary infections, who drive malaria transmission at population level and how anti-gametocyte immunity affects gametocyte production and infectivity.
I hypothesize that secondary infections can arise from low-density infections but that higher gametocyte densities result in comparatively more infectious mosquitoes and an increased number of secondary infections. I further hypothesize that malaria transmission efficiency and changes therein can only be accurately predicted if anti-gametocyte immunity is thoroughly understood and that the rapid loss of gametocyte immunity during effective control results in increased transmission efficiency.
Aims and approach: I will perform the first-ever direct assessment of numbers of malaria parasites ejected by mosquitoes in relation to natural gametocyte densities. Using novel genotyping approaches, longitudinal sampling of infections at unsurpassed resolution and state-of-the art analytical approaches, I will perform the most comprehensive molecular evaluation of malaria transmission in a real community ever performed. Lastly, I will quantify the impact of immune responses that reduce gametocyte density and infectivity by novel immune-profiling approaches and mathematical transmission models.
Importance and innovation: this project will profoundly improve understanding of the production and infectivity of gametocytes and the epidemiological impact of human immune responses that influence these processes. The work in different African settings will provide a major leap forward in understanding the human infectious reservoir for malaria and has direct implications for elimination
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases malaria
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology invertebrate zoology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2019-COG
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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.
6525 GA NIJMEGEN
Netherlands
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.