Chief Investigator:

Dr Michelle Boyle

Funding Amount:

$72,000

Recipient:

Menzies School of Health Research

Overview:

Malaria caused by Plasmodium results ~ 500,000 deaths annually, the majority children under five years of age. Antibodies are important in immunity against malaria. Specific cells called T-follicular helper cells (TfH) are essential for antibody development. Malaria in children may disrupt TfH cells, but whether this occurs in all forms of malaria and in both children and adults, and the outcomes for antibody development is unknown. We will investigate TfH cells in two forms of malaria and study the impact of TfH on antibody responses. Results will inform the development of vaccines.