Blood-Stage Parasitaemia and Age Determine Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax Gametocytaemia in Papua New Guinea
May 21, 2015
We used state-of-the-art molecular assays to generate evidence on who is most likely to be infected with gametocytes and thereby contributing most to sustained transmission. This method has been adopted as the preferred means of estimating gametocyte prevalence/density from asexual parasite prevalence.
Contrasting Transmission Dynamics of Co-endemic Plasmodium vivax and P. falciparum: Implications for Malaria Control and Elimination
May 7, 2015
This is the first investigation of the molecular epidemiology of malaria across multiple sites in Indonesia, and one of the first studies to demonstrate consistently greater diversity reflective of more stable transmission in P. vivax relative to P. falciparum in a range of endemic settings. The study highlighted the need for concerted efforts to target the major reservoirs of P. vivax infection if malaria elimination is to be successful in co-endemic regions.
Human antibodies fix complement to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum invasion of erythrocytes and are associated with protection against clinical malaria
March 17, 2015
Antibodies play major roles in immunity to malaria; however, a limited understanding of mechanisms mediating protection is a major barrier…
The effect of dose on the antimalarial efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine: a pooled analysis of individual patient data
March 15, 2015
The paper highlights underdosing of lumefantrine in young children and has also been incorporated into the latest WHO Antimalarial Therapeutic Guidelines.
Ultra-Sensitive Detection of Plasmodium falciparumby Amplification of Multi-Copy Subtelomeric Targets
March 3, 2015
This manuscript describes the development of a novel PCR method for detecting ultra low-density P. falciparum infections previously not detectable by any other method but contributing to ongoing transmission.
Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine plus azithromycin for the prevention of low birthweight in Papua New Guinea: a randomised controlled trial
January 16, 2015
A large trial in nearly 2800 women showed a combination of sulphadoxine and pyrimethamine with azithromycin to decrease low birth weight and preterm birth in Papua New Guinea.
Parasite Biomass-Related Inflammation, Endothelial Activation, Microvascular Dysfunction and Disease Severity in Vivax Malaria
January 8, 2015
Plasmodium vivax can cause severe malaria, however its pathogenesis is poorly understood. In contrast to P. falciparum, circulating vivax parasitemia is low,…
Modelling the contribution of the hypnozoite reservoir to Plasmodium vivax transmission
November 18, 2014
This manuscript outlines the first mathematical model that explicitly models the contribution of relapsing infections to P. vivax transmission. This model has since served as the basis of more advanced models investigating both the effect of different intervention on P. vivax transmission and evolutionary advantages of different relapse phenotypes.
Immunological markers of vivax exposure and immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
September 9, 2014
This study standardised protective immune responses across multiple populations to identify biomarkers of protective vivax immunity across populations of varying malaria transmission.
Global extent of chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax a systematic review and meta-analysis
September 8, 2014
A meta-analysis of >191 clinical trials highlighting the complexity of defining P. vivax antimalarial efficacy. The paper demonstrates that the extent of chloroquine resistant P. vivax is far greater than previously appreciated