Malaria Transmission Lab

Malaria is one of the most important life-threatening infectious diseases in humans, causing over 400,000 deaths per year. While Plasmodium falciparum dominates in sub-Saharan Africa, P. vivax is responsible for most cases in many regions of Asia and South America. In the last ten years, there has been a drastic decline in malaria cases and deaths worldwide. However, drug resistance is spreading in both parasite and vector species. The malaria parasite cycle is complex and takes place in both mammalian and mosquito hosts. Our laboratory uses a "systems parasitology" approach to study different aspects of parasite transmission from humans (and animals) to mosquitoes in order to find new ways to combat malaria.