Professor Leann Tilley B.Sc. (Melb), PhD (Syd) Professor of Biochemistry Phone: +61 3 9479 1375 Fax: +613 9479 2467 Email: [email protected] Homepage: www.latrobe.edu.au/biochemistry/labs/tilley/research.html Room 256 (Office), 252 (Lab), Physical Sciences 4

Work in Prof Tilley's laboratory aims to use molecular and cell biological approaches to understand the interactions of the malaria parasite with the erythrocytes of its human host. It is hoped that these studies will lead to the development of new antimalarial strategies.

Cellular architecture of the malaria parasite-infected erythrocyte

The malaria parasite spends part of its life-cycle inside the erythrocytes of its human host where it modifies the erythrocyte membrane to promote its own growth and survival. To do this the intracellular parasite exports proteins outside the boundaries of its own plasma membrane. These proteins include major virulence factors that are responsible for the lethality of the malaria parasite.

The molecular machinery and the mechanisms of transport involved in this external transport system are not yet understood but they appear to be different from those used in mammalian systems. Characterization of the components of the secretory pathway in the malaria parasite will lead to an understanding of the molecular basis of parasite virulence and to the development of novel antimalarial strategies.

Prof Tilley's laboratory uses molecular and cell biology techniques to identify the parasite components responsible for these unusual trafficking events. She and colleagues have set up a confocal microscope facility and developed techniques for fluorescence photobleaching of green fluorescent protein in transfected parasites to study locations and dynamics of parasite proteins in live cells.

Prof Tilley's work within the Centre of Excellence in Coherent X-ray Science will provide new insights into the cellular architecture of the malaria parasite. Her group will employ novel coherent X-ray diffraction imaging techniques to image the ultrastructure of whole malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes with greatly enhanced resolution.

As Deputy Director of the Centre, Prof Tilley is keen to foster interactions between physicists, chemists and biologists to allow the development of new approaches to probing biological structures and processes.

More information about Prof Tilley's research: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/biochemistry/labs/tilley/research.html