Researchers | Parasite Control Cluster

Scope of the Parasite Control Cluster:

The Parasite cluster aims to contribute new knowledge and expand on internationally recognized existing expertise in structural and functional genomics of the malaria parasite in order to identify alternative sustainable biological and chemical malaria parasite control mechanisms. Research contributes uniquely to sustainability in malaria control and elimination by focussing on both the pathogenic and transmission forms of the parasite. Biochemical distinctions between the malaria parasite and the human host, which are exploitable for the design of novel antimalarial chemotherapeuticals and transmission blocking drugs, are investigated. Expertise on the Plasmodium parasite is combined with research strengths in bioinformatics-driven identification of antimalarial targets and structure-based drug discovery endeavours. Expertise in the biology of the parasite is coupled to understanding the mosquito vector for identification of alternative vector control mechanisms through collaborations with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). The cluster has close links to the SARChI Chair: Mathematical Models and Methods in Bioengineering and Bio-sciences, with a focus on mathematical epidemiology, including vector borne tropical diseases and the UP Genomics Research Institute, which combines the UP expertise in Genomics, including transcriptomics, proteomics, systems biology and bioinformatics.

Researchers mainly involved with research in the Parasite Control Cluster:

Dr MJ (Johanna) Bapela      Researcher Department: Plant Sciences Expertise: Anti-malarial drug discovery from plants Tel:  +27 (0)12 420 6674 Email: [email protected]

Prof AD (Duncan) Cromarty      Researcher Department: Pharmacology Expertise: Proteonomic analysis of drug-treated parasites Tel:  +27 (0)12 319 2622 Email: [email protected]

Dr J (Jandeli) Niemand      Young Established Researcher (NRF Y1) Department: Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology; Devision: Biochemistry, Malaria Parsite Molecular Laboratory (M2PL) Expertise: Proteonomic analysis of drug-treated parasites Tel:  +27 (0)12 420 2990 Email: [email protected]