RESEARCH THEMES

The main focus of the CMP research team is to study the role of parasite-encoded variant antigens on the surface of infected erythrocytes in the pathogenesis of, and immune response to, malaria parasite infection, and the development of malaria vaccines based on these antigens.

The team has contributed significantly to the current molecular and immunological understanding of the pathogenesis of severe P. falciparum malaria, both pregnancy-associated malaria and severe childhood malaria, which cause the majority of malaria-related mortality and severe morbidity. CMP scientists possess cutting-edge expertise in parasite molecular biology, recombinant protein technology, and immunology tools and assays such as experimental rodent models of variant-specific pathogenesis and immunity and human monoclonal antibody technology. CMP scientists have extensive expertise in handling and cultivation of malaria parasites in vitro and in vivo, and have pioneered the methods for detection of PfEMP1 on the surface of intact infected erythrocytes by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy, as well as for quantification of var gene expression by RT-PCR.

Principal scientific and technical personnel involved and their relevant experience:

Lars Hviid (PI), David Arnot (confocal microscopy), Lea Barfod (human monoclonal antibodies), Anja Jensen and Ali Salanti (molecular biology and recombinant antigens), Trine Staalsoe (experimental animal models).

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

•    Hviid, L 2011, ' The case for PfEMP1-based vaccines to protect pregnant women against Plasmodium falciparum malaria ', Expert Review of Vaccines , vol 10, no. 10, pp. 1405-14.
•    Barfod, L , Dalgaard, MB , Pleman, ST , Ofori, MF, Pleass, RJ & Hviid, L 2011, ' Evasion of immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria by IgM masking of protective IgG epitopes in infected erythrocyte surface-exposed PfEMP1 ', National Academy of Sciences. Proceedings , vol 108, no. 30, pp. 12485-90.
•    Barfod, L , Dobrilovic, T , Magistrado, P , Khunrae, P, Viwami, F , Bruun, J , Dahlbäck, M , Bernasconi, NL, Fried, M, John, D, Duffy, PE , Salanti, A , Lanzavecchia, A, Lim, CT, Ndam, NT, Higgins, MK & Hviid, L 2010, ' Chondroitin sulfate A-adhering Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes express functionally important antibody epitopes shared by multiple variants ', Journal of Immunology , vol 185, no. 12, pp. 7553-61.
•    Barfod, L , Bernasconi, NL , Dahlbäck, M , Jarrossay, D , Andersen, PH , Salanti, A , Ofori, MF , Turner, L , Resende, M , Nielsen, MA , Theander, TG , Sallusto, F, Lanzavecchia, A & Hviid, L 2007, ' Human pregnancy-associated malaria-specific B cells target polymorphic, conformational epitopes in VAR2CSA ', Molecular Microbiology , vol 63, no. 2, pp. 335-47.
•    Rogerson, SJ , Hviid, L , Duffy, PE, Leke, RFG & Taylor, DW 2007, ' Malaria in pregnancy: pathogenesis and immunity ', Lancet Infectious Diseases , vol 7, no. 2, pp. 105-17.