Help us beat malaria
A$7,936
of $7,500 targetyrs ago
Successful on 5th Mar 2015 at 8:02PM.
I want to help make a vaccine to stop a child dying every minute from malaria.
Malaria kills more than 800,000 people every year. Children under five and pregnant women are most vulnerable.
By supporting my project, you're funding 14 weeks of vital research into a protein that we believe is a strong candidate for a malaria vaccine.
What exactly is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is spread by mosquitoes. The parasite is very good at quickly adapting to the drugs we use to treat it. The best long-term solution is to develop a vaccine to prevent infection.
A malaria parasite burrowing into a red blood cell. Credit: WEHI.TV
What do we need to develop a vaccine?
We need to take a closer look at the proteins used by the parasite to survive in humans and continue its lifecycle.
We’ve already discovered one of these proteins, called Ripr, which helps the parasite invade red blood cells and avoid an attack from the immune system. Targeting a protein such as this could prevent the parasite from entering red blood cells and ultimately, kill the parasite.
To work out if this protein is a viable vaccine candidate, we need to do two things:
1. Study the molecular structure of the Ripr protein
2. Identify which parts of Ripr interact with other proteins to enable the parasite to invade red blood cells
Malaria kills more than 800,000 people every year. Children under five and pregnant women are most vulnerable.
By supporting my project, you're funding 14 weeks of vital research into a protein that we believe is a strong candidate for a malaria vaccine.
What exactly is malaria?
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that is spread by mosquitoes. The parasite is very good at quickly adapting to the drugs we use to treat it. The best long-term solution is to develop a vaccine to prevent infection.
A malaria parasite burrowing into a red blood cell. Credit: WEHI.TV
What do we need to develop a vaccine?
We need to take a closer look at the proteins used by the parasite to survive in humans and continue its lifecycle.
We’ve already discovered one of these proteins, called Ripr, which helps the parasite invade red blood cells and avoid an attack from the immune system. Targeting a protein such as this could prevent the parasite from entering red blood cells and ultimately, kill the parasite.
To work out if this protein is a viable vaccine candidate, we need to do two things:
1. Study the molecular structure of the Ripr protein
2. Identify which parts of Ripr interact with other proteins to enable the parasite to invade red blood cells
How The Funds Will Be Used
When you support my project, you will be directly funding the equipment and consumables required to study these proteins.
I will use a technique called isotopic labelling to label Ripr proteins that I make in the lab so that they can be further analysed with the aim of visualising the 3-dimensional structure of the protein. This technique is expensive and time consuming, but absolutely vital for any potential vaccine development.
Once the isotopic labeling is complete, I’ll be able to observe the proteins using a technique called NMR (think of an MRI machine, but for molecules!).
My research findings will have two key outcomes. They will:
1. provide further information on the molecular machinery used by the malaria parasite to survive
2. directly inform potential vaccine design
To investigate this key parasite protein, I need $6000 for isotope labelling and NMR time, plus $1500 for laboratory consumables.
Money raised from this Pozible campaign will go towards these costs.
Me hard at work in the lab!
I will use a technique called isotopic labelling to label Ripr proteins that I make in the lab so that they can be further analysed with the aim of visualising the 3-dimensional structure of the protein. This technique is expensive and time consuming, but absolutely vital for any potential vaccine development.
Once the isotopic labeling is complete, I’ll be able to observe the proteins using a technique called NMR (think of an MRI machine, but for molecules!).
My research findings will have two key outcomes. They will:
1. provide further information on the molecular machinery used by the malaria parasite to survive
2. directly inform potential vaccine design
To investigate this key parasite protein, I need $6000 for isotope labelling and NMR time, plus $1500 for laboratory consumables.
Money raised from this Pozible campaign will go towards these costs.
Me hard at work in the lab!
WEHI.TV animation DVD
Animation is a powerful tool for presenting ideas about science that are impossible to observe and difficult to visualise when described with words. Through 3D animation the audience comes face-to-face with a neuron pulsing with electric messages, or inside an artery to view the ceaseless rush of blood cells.
13 chosen
Est. delivery is Apr 15
A4 poster print
A beautiful A4 poster print depicting the three dimensional structure of the malaria parasite protein production machine (the ribosome) bound to the anti-malarial drug emetine. This image is an example of the power of structural biology techniques, and was generated by an institute researcher. PLUS A WEHI.TV animation DVD
13 chosen
Est. delivery is Apr 15
Plush malaria parasite
Normally invisible to the naked eye, this plush malaria parasite toy helps you visualise exactly what we're up against!
16 chosen / 9 available
Est. delivery is Jul 15
A public thank you!
A personal shout-out to you when I present data in oral format at a conference. PLUS EITHER A plush malaria parasite toy. OR An A4 poster print of the three dimensional structure of the malaria parasite protein production machine (the ribosome) bound to an anti-malarial drug.
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 15
Be included in my paper!
I'll thank you by name in the acknowledgments section of any scientific papers published as a result of this research. PLUS A personal shout-out to you when I present data in oral format at a conference. PLUS A plush malaria parasite toy. PLUS An A4 poster print of the three dimensional structure of the malaria parasite protein production machine (the ribosome) bound to an anti-malarial drug.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 15
You, famous on the net!
You, acknowledged on the institute's website in a feature article about this campaign. PLUS All the rewards of a $1000 donor!
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 15