Biology of malarial parasite

Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology

We are exploring several aspects of the biology of the malarial parasite. Immunity to malaria develops slowly after repeated attacks, and manifests itself mainly in the adults. A major focus of our work has been to molecularly dissect out the protective responses present in the immune adults residing in endemic areas of India (Orissa). Recent analysis of data from a less endemic area (Mumbai city) has suggested the presence of age-dependent sexual dimorphism in clinical susceptibility to the disease. We also work on the glucose utilization by the parasite and on the membrane properties of parasite-infected red blood cells. The latter is assessed in single red cells using a combination of laser optical tweezer, flow cell and fluorescence microscopy.

** Please Note: No position for project or student trainee is available in my laboratory until July 2012. **

Publications

1. Basant A, Rege M, Sharma S, Sonawat HM (2010) Alterations in urine, serum and brain metabolomic profiles exhibit sexual dimorphism during malaria disease progression. Malaria Journal 9: 110
2. Mony BM, Mehta M, Jarori GK, Sharma S (2009) Plant-like phosphofructokinase from Plasmodium falciparum belongs to a novel class of ATP-dependent enzymes. International Journal of Parasitology 39: 1441
3. Bambardekar K, Dharmadhikari AK, Dharmadhikari JA, Mathur D, Sharma S (2008) Measuring erythrocyte deformability with fluorescence, fluid forces and optical trapping. Journal of Biomedical Optics 13: 064021
4. Joshi M, Pathak S, Sharma S, Patravale V (2008) Design and in vivo pharmacodynamic evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers for parenteral delivery of Artemether:Nanoject. International Journal of Pharmaceutics 364: 119
5. Aruna K, Chakraborty T, Rao C, Santos P, Ballesta JPG, Sharma S (2005) Functional complementation of yeast ribosomal P0 protein with Plasmodium falciparum P0. Gene 357: 9
6. Rajeshwari K, Patel K, Savithri N, Mehta M, Sehgal A, Chakrabarty T, Sharma S (2004) P-domain of the P0 protein of Plasmodium falciparum protects against challenge with parasite. Infection & Immunity 72: 5515