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His Department of Molecular Biology has been engaged in studies on the molecular biology of malaria parasites with an emphasis on gametogenesis and transmission for more than 10 years. The Department has made major contributions in molecular aspect of gametogenesis and was among to first to clone gametocyte-specific antigens. One of these antigens, Pfs48/45 was recently shown to be critical for gamete fertilisation. One of the current objectives is on the characterisation of the P. falciparum proteome at different developmental stages using high throughput mass spectrometry. The Department has recently embarked on epigenetic aspects of gene regulation in P. falciparum. The Department has a long-standing and strong international reputation in the area of gene regulation and epigenetics in higher eukaryotes. It has established a large number of ‘classical’ as well as state-of-the-art tools such as histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase assays involving chromatinised, nucleosomal templates from recombinant histones, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, genomic arraying, TAP-tagging/purification of co-repressor and co-activator complexes combined with MS analysis of its components. The expertise places the Department in an unique position to tackle gene regulation and epigenetics in Plasmodium and complement and strengthen other partner activities to achieve the ambitious goals defined in clusters 1+ 3.
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