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.
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.
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.
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:
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:
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:
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