Sex in malaria parasites – from basic biology to targets for transmission blocking interventions.

Projektinformationen

SEXinMALARIA

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 788516

DOI 10.3030/788516

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 2 Mai 2018

Startdatum 1 September 2018

Enddatum 31 August 2024

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten € 2 500 000,00

EU-Beitrag € 2 500 000,00

Koordiniert durch

UMEA UNIVERSITET
Sweden

Ziel

Sexual development in malaria parasites is critical for disease transmission between infected individuals, and is therefore a major target for the malaria elimination agenda. However, there are currently no effective drugs or vaccines that block parasite transmission to mosquitoes, and we currently do not understand the molecular mechanisms involved. This is primarily because Plasmodium genetics has been slow, with the majority of the genome unexplored. I here propose to conduct the first genome-scale screen for male and/or female fertility genes by leveraging a game-changing genetic system we have developed and recently validated through the first genome-scale in vivo gene KO screen in any parasite. Using simultaneous phenotyping of barcoded mutants, we will conduct the first genome-scale screen for male and/or female fertility genes. My team will systematically map specific biological roles for hundreds of parasite genes, ranging from sex determination to zygote differentiation. We will also overcome the next hurdle in Plasmodium genetics by developing a method for massive parallel phenotyping, using the power of single cell transcriptomics to validate the screen and reveal molecular mechanisms at previously intractable points in the Plasmodium life cycle. This approach has clear translational implications, as it will identify both drug and vaccine candidates. This proposal builds firmly on my outstanding track records in delivering large reverse genetics projects and making ground-breaking discoveries in Plasmodium transmission biology. Its unprecedented breadth and depth will mark a turning point in how gene functions are studied in this important model parasite. I am relocating from the UK to Umeå University, a centre of excellence for pathogen research and innovative genetics, so retaining this important research in the EU of 27 will depend critically on ERC funding.

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet

• medical and health sciences › health sciences › infectious diseases › malaria
• social sciences › sociology › demography › fertility
• medical and health sciences › basic medicine › pharmacology and pharmacy › pharmaceutical drugs › vaccines
• natural sciences › biological sciences › genetics › genomes
• natural sciences › biological sciences › zoology › invertebrate zoology

Schlüsselbegriffe

• Biology of sex
• sex determination
• Malaria
• mosquito transmission

Programm/Programme

• H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme

Thema/Themen

• ERC-2017-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

ERC-2017-ADG

Finanzierungsplan

ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

Gastgebende Einrichtung

UMEA UNIVERSITET

• Netto-EU-Beitrag: € 2 500 000,00
• Adresse: UNIVERSITETOMRADET ; 901 87 Umea ; Schweden
• Region: Norra Sverige › Övre Norrland › Västerbottens län
• Aktivitätstyp: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Gesamtkosten: € 2 500 000,00

Begünstigte (1)

UMEA UNIVERSITET

Schweden

• Netto-EU-Beitrag: € 2 500 000,00
• Adresse: UNIVERSITETOMRADET ; 901 87 Umea
• Region: Norra Sverige › Övre Norrland › Västerbottens län
• Aktivitätstyp: Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
• Gesamtkosten: € 2 500 000,00