Characterizing the in vivo Plasmodium Metabolome
Our goal is to understand the metabolic interaction between the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum and the human host during infection. One aspect of this study will rely on patient samples from endemic regions for analysis by mass spectrometry to catalogue the small molecule metabolite levels in infected and uninfected individuals. The methodology for this project is already well established in our lab to look at in vitro cultures of infected red blood cells. A main motivation, therefore is to extend this work to field samples from infected individuals. The results of this study could provide valuable insight toward future therapies aimed at abrogating the severity of disease and ultimately allow us to clear patients of the disease. This research is an ideal platform for an international partnership, because we can provide training here for personnel from abroad (who can then go back and perform these experiments in established locations worldwide), the technological investment is feasible, and the methodologies are easily transferable.
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