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Project Image Option 1 Vaccines Against Malaria Caused By Plasmodium Falciparum And P.Vivix

Vaccines against malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax

Open to students

This project involves identifying and prioritising candidate antigens for vaccine development, determining the optimal formulation and delivery of vaccine antigens, and developing assays to measure vaccine-induced immune responses that can be used in vaccine development and clinical trials.

Objective

We aim to identify and advance candidate antigens for vaccine development, including multiantigen and multi-stage vaccines, and to evaluate vaccine delivery platforms that are optimal for malaria vaccines.

Approach

In these studies, we use innovative approaches to identify specific malaria proteins (antigens) that are targeted by antibodies that protect against malaria.

We evaluate antibodies that prevent infection, or neutralise and clear malaria parasites in the blood, including antibody interactions with monocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells.

By identifying the specific epitopes targeted by protective antibodies we can design vaccines that maximally induce protective immunity against malaria.

We are evaluating different vaccine platforms and technologies for malaria vaccines, including nanoparticles and virus-like particles, mRNA vaccines, peptide-based vaccines, and viral-vectored vaccines.

Student opportunities

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Development of novel vaccines against malaria

Development of a highly effective vaccine against malaria is greatly needed for global elimination of malaria. However, this is currently hindered because of a limited knowledge of the mechanisms and specific targets of immunity to malaria.

We've used a wide range of approaches to identify mechanisms involving antibody interactions with:

  • Fc-receptors, immune cells, and complement; and
  • antibody blocking of receptor-ligand interactions, which may be crucial for effective immunity against malaria.

In addition, we're investigating responses generated by existing vaccines that have completed clinical trials but only achieved partial protective efficacy.

We aim to understand the immune responses these vaccines generate, how they work and why they're not more protective. This will help achieve next generation highly protective and long-lasting vaccines.

This project will use our recently developed technologies and approaches to identify targets and epitopes that induce functional antibodies.

The research will focus on key antigens expressed by malaria during invasion of host cells in the liver or the blood. It will involve the use of multiple cellular, molecular and antibody assays to identify potential targets that could be included in vaccines.

The project will link with our mRNA vaccine project. It could involve a focus on mRNA vaccines depending on the student's interest and background.

Studies will also:

  • investigate the optimal combinations of antibody targets that induce functional immunity in a synergistic manner; and
  • use this knowledge to inform vaccine design and the expression and testing of novel vaccine candidates to achieve high levels of protection from malaria.

Studies could also include analysis of responses in completed clinical trials of malaria vaccine candidates. 

The project will link with our vaccine development activities using mRNA and recombinant protein vaccine platforms.

The specific activities and focus of the project will be refined to suit the interests and training background of the student. This project is suitable for a student with a keen interest in humoral and cellular immunology and/or vaccine design.

The student will acquire unique skills in performing immunoassays including:

  • ELISA
  • monocyte/ neutrophil isolation
  • flow-cytometry and immuno-fluorescent staining
  • phagocytosis assays
  • standard techniques in cell culture
  • analysing data from clinical studies.

Project contacts

Main contact

Professor James Beeson

Professor James Beeson

Deputy Director, Research Strategy; Head, Malaria Immunity and Vaccines Group; Adjunct Professor, Monash University
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Student supervisor contacts

Professor James Beeson

Professor James Beeson

Deputy Director, Research Strategy; Head, Malaria Immunity and Vaccines Group; Adjunct Professor, Monash University
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Dr Liriye Kurtovic

Dr Liriye Kurtovic

Postdoctoral Research Officer
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Dr Adam Thomas

Dr Adam Thomas

Senior Research Officer - Malaria Vaccines
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Dr Herbert Opi

Dr Herbert Opi

Senior Research Fellow
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Dr Lee Yeoh

Dr Lee Yeoh

Postdoctoral Fellow
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Project team

Alessia Hysa

Alessia Hysa

PhD Student
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Dr Herbert Opi

Dr Herbert Opi

Senior Research Fellow
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Professor James Beeson

Professor James Beeson

Deputy Director, Research Strategy; Head, Malaria Immunity and Vaccines Group; Adjunct Professor, Monash University
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Dr Jo-Anne Chan

Dr Jo-Anne Chan

Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist
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Kaitlin Pekin

Kaitlin Pekin

Research Assistant
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Dr Lee Yeoh

Dr Lee Yeoh

Postdoctoral Fellow
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Dr Linda Reiling

Dr Linda Reiling

Senior Research Officer, Malaria Research: Immunity, Vaccines and New Therapies
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Dr Liriye Kurtovic

Dr Liriye Kurtovic

Postdoctoral Research Officer
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Timothy Ho

Timothy Ho

PhD student
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