Research Opportunities in Molecular Parasitology
Opportunities exist in the Gasser laboratory at The University of Melbourne for highly motivated individuals wanting to undertake PhD projects (3-3.5 years) or become involved as research assistants in the parasite genomics and genetics program. The program is currently supported by funds from the Australian Research Council (ARC), Genetic Technologies Limited GTG), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Melbourne Water Corporation, and Elchrom Scientific AG. The program involves the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) (Dr Alex Loukas), the Commonwealth and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Dr Peter Hunt and Tim Doran), Macquarie University (Prof Shoba Ranganathan), Washington University School of Medicine (Dr Makedonka Mitreva) and CalTech (Prof Paul Sternberg).
Project 1. Mining for new drugs against parasitic nematodes of animals.
Australian Research Council (LP0667795) Gasser RB, Ranganathan S, Beveridge I and Loukas A
Genomic and bioinformatic approaches are being used to discover new drug targets in socio-economically important parasites (worms) of animals. The research will lead to improved, fundamental knowledge and understanding of reproductive and developmental pathways and will provide a foundation for finding new intervention strategies. This is crucial, given the current, serious resistance problems in parasites against most treatments.
Project 2. Discovery of early developmental events in the transition to parasitism in the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum using genomic technologies. Australian Research Council (DP0665230) Gasser RB and Loukas AC
This project will discover and characterize genes and gene products associated specifically with the transition to parasitism in the blood-feeding hookworm Ancylostoma caninum, and define one or more signalling pathways regulating this developmental switch.
Project 3. Molecular diagnosis of parasitism. Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) Hunt P and Gasser RB
Parasitic diseases of animals are predominantly controlled by using chemotherapeutic agents (anthelmintics). Even with optimally-timed (strategic) treatments, this type of control is expensive and, in most cases, only partially effective. Also, the excessive and uncontrolled use of such agents has resulted in serious problems with anthelmintic resistance. The purpose of this project is to develop advanced molecular tools for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep, to overcome the major limitations of traditional diagnostic methods.
Project 4. Catchment sources of waterborne pathogens. Melbourne Water Corporation (W19) Gasser RB, Aaron Jex, Bronwyn Campbell
The surveillance and monitoring of pathogens in water catchments assists in maintaining high quality drinking water. The aims of this project are to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in feral, native and production animals in the catchment areas, to develop and employ molecular tools for the genetic characterisation of pathogens from faecal samples from animals in catchments, and to establish whether the species and genotypes of the parasite in animals within the water catchment areas relate to those found in humans.
PhD candidates
The successful applicant will have completed a BSc (H1) or equivalent and will work on one of the projects listed. Applicants must meet all criteria for enrolment in the University of Melbourne (http://www.unimelb.edu.au/student/postgrad/index.html). Opportunities exist for projects involving international collaborators.
Research Assistant
The successful applicant will have completed a BSc (H1 or H2A) degree and be able to work relatively independently on one of the projects listed. Previous experience in molecular microbiology or molecular parasitology is highly desirable. Twelve month fixed-term appointment, with a view toward a PhD program supported by a scholarship from the University of Melbourne.
Further Information
Professor Robin B. Gasser
PhD projects are currently available highly motivated individuals in the laboratory of Dr Bernd Kalinna, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Australia.
The major focus of the laboratory is helminth parasites of medical and veterinary inportance. Ongoing projects deal with basic molecular aspects of the genome of the human schistosomes including their resident mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Bood flukes that cause schistosomiasis are endemic in 76 countries; it is estimated that as many as 300 million people are infected, and that another 600 million live at risk of infection. The parasitic worms deposit eggs into the blood vessels of the human gut and liver causing chronic inflammation. The disease kills only a small proportion of patients however the long-term pain and suffering creates a huge economic burden on developing countries that surpasses that of most other endemic diseases. Control largely relies on the drug praziquantel however its wide scale use has led to concerns that drug resistance will develop. New Drugs or control strategies will soon be required. In 1994 the World Health Organisation Schistosome Genome Project was initiated aiming at identifying target genes that will enable scientists to develop new drugs and vaccines. It is anticipated the complete genome of the worm will be reported within the next 12 months and methods are desperately needed to determine the importance of each gene in the pathways that may make good candidates for drugs and vaccines aimed at killing the parasite.
Project 1: Transfection of Schistosoma mansoni using mobile genetic elements
National Health and Medical Research Council (454422)
Kalinna BH, Brindley PJ, Loukas, A, Purcell D, McManus DP
& National Institutes of Health, USA ( AI072773). Kalinna BH, Brindley PJ, Mann V
In our studies we are using an endogenous retrotransposon/retrovirus (Boudicca) of schistosomes that we have identified in the parasite as a vehicle to genetically manipulate the worm. This will help to understand the function and importance of novel antigens that have been discovered by the genome project. To test this method we will use RNA interference (RNAi) to analyse gene function. This technology employs a naturally occurring pathway that uses short RNA molecules to very specifically control the formation of gene products. We propose to construct virus-like elements to deliver these RNAs. The flukes feed on blood and we will inhibit key digestive enzymes to determine if they might make effective targets for drugs and vaccines. In a parallel project we are also using Mouse Moloney Leukeamia Virus constructs to deliver DNA into schistosomes. Our research is funded by NH&MRC and NIH.
Project 2: Schistosome male–female interaction: induction of germ-cell differentiation
Kalinna BH, Gobert G, McConville M
Male and female schistosomes are permanently paired while they live in the bloodstream of their vertebrate hosts. This intimate contact is a prerequisite for female reproductive development and for the maintenance of her mature state. Female schistosomes produce eggs only when they are in association with a male. Almost nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating these developmental induction processes. In this new project we are planning to use microarray analysis and metabolomics to identify key molecules responsible for this processes. The identification and inhibition of male-induced signalling molecules in the reproductive organs of female schistosomes might open alternative ways to control schistosomiasis, because this would inhibit egg laying and therefore stop pathogenesis in infected humans. Prevention of egg production would also interrupt the propagation of this parasite.
PhD candidates
The successful applicant will have completed a BSc (H1) or equivalent and will work on one of the projects listed. Applicants must meet all criteria for enrolment in the University of Melbourne (http://www.unimelb.edu.au/student/postgrad). Opportunities exist for projects involving international collaborators.
Further Information
Dr Bernd Kalinna (03) 8344 8805 | bernd.kalinna@unimelb.edu.au