Malaria, Mosquitoes and Man
Within CAEP, the Malaria, Mosquitoes and Man group has been established to foster and strengthen collaborations between seven research laboratories with synergetic interests in Anopheles gambiae, Plasmodium falciparum and their interactions. These laboratories bring together expertise in molecular ecology and population genomics of A. gambiae (Dr Frédéric Tripet); Focussing on P. falciparum, we have expertise in molecular biology and gene expression analyses (Dr Paul Horrocks); molecular and cellular consequences of P. falciparum sequestration on human cells (Dr Srabasti Chakravorty); the cellular and molecular biology of Plasmodium to bring a new understanding of malaria pathogenesis (Dr Ilaria Russo).
The Malaria, Mosquitoes and Man group is interested in both transmission and pathogenesis of malaria. This includes all aspects of modern vector control, from discovering genes for refractoriness to P. falciparum in A. gambiae, to engineering mosquitoes to no longer transmit malaria, to studying the ecology and population genetics of target populations and to understanding olfactory-driven mosquito behaviours. It extends to identifying new drug targets in P. falciparum, understanding P. falciparum virulence genes and gene expression within red blood cells, and studying the post-adhesive effects of Plasmodium-infected 
cells on the human vascular endothelium. Much of this work has the ultimate goal of potentially identifying new malaria treatments.
We have excellent facilities within CAEP that include a newly refurbished suite of laboratories and a suite of 7 insectaries. Facilities include bio-safety-level-3 rooms for culture of human malaria parasites and human vascular cells, as well as for mosquito infections. This makes Keele one of a handful of UK Institutions capable of undertaking research that bridges both the sexual and asexual stages of the malaria parasite, with a view to a better understanding of all aspects of malaria. We also have dedicated facilities for scanning and transmission electron microscopy, real-time quantitative PCR and fluorescence imaging, mass spectrometry and microarray analysis. In addition to high quality local facilities, the group also benefits from a network of collaborators in Africa that enables us to co-ordinate laboratory-based and field-based studies. We encourage strong candidates with an interest in one or more of those fields to apply to our PhD program.
Photographs top: Scanning electron micrograph of an oocyst of Plasmodium yoelii nigerienses on the midgut wall of Anopheles stephensi (Hilary Hurd)
Middle - Anopheles stephensi line 1 pupa (3xP3:ECFP) (Paul Eggleston)