Working together to combat malaria.
"...information at the molecular level is vital to gain insights
into the pathogenesis of malaria, and potentially offers
the opportunity to develop better drugs."
~ Subra Suresh
 Collaborator profile Heinrich Hoppe Malaria Expertise - Molecular mechanism of endocytosis in malaria parasites : The critical process of endocytosis, by which the parasite acquires hemoglobin from the host red blood cell for digestion, is very poorly understood beyond the morphological level. Heinrich and his research group are characterizing 7 malaria homologues of proteins known to be involved in endocytosis in other organisms in an effort to learn more of the fundamental mechanisms of endocytosis in the parasite. The experimental approach involves recombinant protein expression in E.coli, antiserum production, localization by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, gene suppression by RNAi and heterologous malaria gene expression in Dictyostelium.
- Cell biological effects and mode of action of antimalarial drugs: the group has developed a variety of endocytosis assays to examine the effect of antimalarial drugs on this crucial process.
- Antimalarial activities of haemolytic antimicrobials: Heinrich's group is also further characterizing several commonly used membrane-active antimicrobials that appear to specifically lyse the membranes of red blood cells infected with parasites as potential therapy in severe malaria cases.
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