close search

Discovering novel antimalarials to block parasite invasion of human cells

Drugs are the main weapons used to combat malaria infection, but parasites are becoming resistant and new medicines and drug targets are needed. We are developing new antimalarials that prevent the parasite from entering the host red blood cell. If the parasite cannot invade, it cannot cause disease. We use our extensive history in deciphering the invasion process of malaria parasites to inform drug discovery.

We seek to better understand how the malaria parasite enters red blood cells, and to use this knowledge to discover and develop novel therapeutics.

2003–ongoing

We are pioneers in using live cell microscopy to investigate how malaria parasites get into host red blood cells. We use this specialised technique to aid in our discovery of novel antimalarial compounds that inhibit this process.

Better, safer, and cheaper antimalarial drugs would benefit endemic communities around the world and could accelerate malaria elimination. The research will also provide new knowledge about parasite biology that could inform future treatment options.

Associate Professor Paul Gilson

Contact Associate Professor Paul Gilson for more information about this project. 

EMAIL

Funding
Partners

  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)

Partners +
Collaborators

  • WEHI (Brad Sleebs, William Nguyen, Madeline Dans)
  • Deakin University/Burnet Institute (Alyssa Barry)
  • Deakin University (Tania de Koning-Ward)
  • Monash University (Darren Creek, Ghizal Siddiqui)

Project
Team

Meet the project team. Together, we are translating research into better health, for all.

Associate Professor Paul Gilson

DEPUTY DISCIPLINE HEAD, LIFE SCIENCES; CO-HEAD, MALARIA VIRULENCE AND DRUG DISCOVERY GROUP; HEAD OF BURNET CELL IMAGING FACILITY

Paul Gilson is a molecular biologist primarily interested in how malaria parasites invade...

Claudia Barnes

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

After completing the Bachelor of Biomedicine at The University of Melbourne, Claudia undertook an Ho...

Doctor Hayley Bullen

DEPUTY WORKING GROUP HEAD, MALARIA VIRULENCE AND DRUG DISCOVERY GROUP

After completing her Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree in 2006, Hayley went on to pursue her...

Professor Brendan Crabb AC

DIRECTOR AND CEO; CO-HEAD, MALARIA VIRULENCE AND DRUG DISCOVERY GROUP; CHAIR AUSTRALIAN GLOBAL HEALTH ALLIANCE AND CHAIR PACIFIC FRIENDS OF GLOBAL HEALTH

Professor Brendan Crabb AC PhD FAA FAHMS FASM is an infectious disease researcher with a special int...

Associate Professor Paul Gilson

DEPUTY DISCIPLINE HEAD, LIFE SCIENCES; CO-HEAD, MALARIA VIRULENCE AND DRUG DISCOVERY GROUP; HEAD OF BURNET CELL IMAGING FACILITY

Paul Gilson is a molecular biologist primarily interested in how malaria parasites invade...

Doctor Oliver Looker

POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST

After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in 2013, Oliver completed an honours project under Prof...

Molly Schneider

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Molly completed her Bachelor of Science with Honours in 2016 at the University of Melbourne. Her res...

Publications

VIEW ALL RESEARCH
Bottoms up! Malaria parasite invasion the right way around.

Andrews M, Baum J, Gilson PR, Wilson DW

  • 10 Oct 2023
Malaria
Characterisation of PfCZIF1 and PfCZIF2 in Plasmodium falciparum asexual stages.

Balbin JM, Heinemann GK, Yeoh LM, Gilberger TW, Armstrong M, Duffy MF, Gilson PR, Wilson DW

  • International journal for parasitology
  • 15 Nov 2022
Malaria
The dual action of human antibodies specific to Plasmodium falciparum PfRH5 and PfCyRPA: Blocking invasion and inactivating extracellular merozoites.

Weiss GE, Ragotte RJ, Quinkert D, Lias AM, Dans MG, Boulet C, Looker O, Ventura OD, Williams BG, Crabb BS, Draper SJ, Gilson PR

  • PLoS pathogens
  • 15 Sep 2023
Malaria
Defining species-specific and conserved interactions of apical membrane protein 1 during erythrocyte invasion in malaria to inform multi-species vaccines.

Drew DR, Wilson DW, Weiss GE, Yeoh LM, G Henshall I, Crabb BS, Dutta S, Gilson PR, Beeson JG

  • Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS
  • 27 Feb 2023
Plasmodium falciparum formins are essential for invasion and sexual stage development.

Collier S, Pietsch E, Dans M, Ling D, Tavella TA, Lopaticki S, Marapana DS, Shibu MA, Andrew D, Tiash S, McMillan PJ, Gilson P, Tilley L, Dixon MWA

  • Communications biology
  • 18 Aug 2023
Malaria
Structure of the Pf12 and Pf41 heterodimeric complex of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> 6-cysteine proteins.

Dietrich MH, Chan LJ, Adair A, Boulet C, O'Neill MT, Tan LL, Keremane S, Mok YF, Lo AW, Gilson P, Tham WH

  • FEMS microbes
  • 16 Feb 2022
Screening the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box for invasion and egress inhibitors of the blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum reveals several inhibitory compounds.

Dans MG, Weiss GE, Wilson DW, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR

  • International journal for parasitology
  • 03 Mar 2020
Malaria
Targeting malaria parasite invasion of red blood cells as an antimalarial strategy.

Burns AL, Dans MG, Balbin JM, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR, Beeson JG, Boyle MJ, Wilson DW

  • FEMS microbiology reviews
  • 31 Jul 2019
Malaria vaccine candidates displayed on novel virus-like particles are immunogenic and induce transmission-blocking activity.

Chan JA, Wetzel D, Reiling L, Miura K, Drew DR, Gilson PR, Anderson DA, Richards JS, Long CA, Suckow M, Jenzelewski V, Tsuboi T, Boyle MJ, Piontek M, Beeson JG

  • PloS one
  • 10 Sep 2019
Human Antibodies that Slow Erythrocyte Invasion Potentiate Malaria-Neutralizing Antibodies.

Alanine DGW, Quinkert D, Kumarasingha R, Mehmood S, Donnellan FR, Minkah NK, Dadonaite B, Diouf A, Galaway F, Silk SE, Jamwal A, Marshall JM, Miura K, Foquet L, Elias SC, Labbé GM, Douglas AD, Jin J, Payne RO, Illingworth JJ, Pattinson DJ, Pulido D, Williams BG, de Jongh WA, Wright GJ, Kappe SHI, Robinson CV, Long CA, Crabb BS, Gilson PR, Higgins MK, Draper SJ

  • Cell
  • 13 Jun 2019
Malaria
Protein Kinase A Is Essential for Invasion of Plasmodium falciparum into Human Erythrocytes

Wilde ML, Triglia T, Marapana D, Thompson JK, Kouzmitchev AA, Bullen HE, Gilson PR, Cowman AF, Tonkin CJ

  • 08 Oct 2019
Malaria
Functional Conservation of the AMA1 Host-Cell Invasion Ligand Between P. falciparum and P. vivax: A Novel Platform to Accelerate Vaccine and Drug Development.

Drew DR, Sanders PR, Weiss G, Gilson PR, Crabb BS, Beeson JG

  • The Journal of infectious diseases
  • 12 Apr 2019
Differing rates of antibody acquisition to merozoite antigens in malaria: implications for immunity and surveillance.

McCallum FJ, Persson KE, Fowkes FJ, Reiling L, Mugyenyi CK, Richards JS, Simpson JA, Williams TN, Gilson PR, Hodder AN, Sanders PR, Anders RF, Narum DL, Chitnis C, Crabb BS, Marsh K, Beeson JG

  • Journal of leukocyte biology
  • 11 Nov 2016