Niklas Ahlborg

Mabtech AB

Expertise: Immunology, Vaccines

Background and objectives: Twelve years in the field of malaria immunology and vaccinology with a focus on malaria antigen immunogenicity studies. Involved in studies on nucleic acid vaccines against malaria.

Michael Ashton

Göteborg University

Expertise: Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacology

Background and objectives: Preclinical and clinical evaluation of drug treatment of malaria. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling, drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions. Ashton has professional experience from both drug development in major pharma industry as well as NCE evaluation in the Swedish drug regulatory agency. The main objective of the project is to develop antimalarial drug combination treatments which are efficacious, safe, affordable and simple to use.

Maria Teresa Bejarano

Karolinska Institutet

Expertise: Immunology

Background and objectives: Maria Teresa Bejarano has been working for the last 15 years with the cellular immune-reponse to Burkitts lymphoma in particular with aspects relating to the Epstein-Barr virus, the cross-talk with the malaria parasite and the angiogenicity of the lymphoma in relationship to viral and human IL-10.simple to use.

Yngve Bergqvist

Dalarna University College

Expertise: Pharmacokinetics, Organic Chemistry

Background and objectives: We have more that 20 years experience in developing various analytical methods for determination of antimalarial drugs in biological fluids. I have been involved in different pharmacological studies with different groups in the world for the assay of antimalarial drugs. My research groups focus upon development of assays that permit assay from field sampling onto filter paper and assay of drugs from filter paper.

Klavs Berzins

Stockholm University

Expertise: Immunology, Vaccinology

Background and objectives: Parasite neutralizing humoral immune responses in P. falciparum malaria. Effects of immune pressure on P. falciparum diversity. Development of subunit vaccine immunogens based on peptides or nucleic acids.

Anders Björkman

Karolinska Hospital

Expertise: Clinical and molecular epidemiology

Background and objectives: Clinical and molecular epidemiology; diagnosis, chemotherapy and drug resistance; anaemia; protective immunity and interactions with other infections e g HIV; malaria control and intervention studies.

Anna-Karin Borg-Karlsson

Royal Institute of Technology

Expertise: Ecological and Natural Product Chemistry

Background and objectives: The group in Ecological Chemistry has a long tradition and considerable experience of natural product chemistry, and more than 25 years of experience or research in Ecological Chemistry/Natural Product Chemistry. Large experience in techniques concerning collection, isolation, separation, characterisation and stereo-selective synthesis of biological relevant compounds. The group pioneered in developing a multidimensional GC- for separation of enantiomers of chiral compounds in complex mixtures. In the last years, the reseach is tuned to host odours in mammals, especially rats and humans.
The main objective of the project is to modify and apply efficient sampling methods for trapping mosquito attractants and repellents from humans/mammals; and to identify, isolate or synthesise compounds of high purity for electrophysiological recordings and behavioural tests on malaria mosquitos.

Adrian Clarke

Göteborg University

Expertise: Plant molecular biology

Background and objectives: To study the apicoplast Clp proteins in Plasmodium for use as possible drug targets.

Ingrid Faye

Stockholm University

Expertise: Paratransgenics of mosquitoes

Background and objectives: Pioneering work on innate immunity, using Drosophila and Cecropia as model systems. Cloning of the first antibacterial protein genes: Cecropin B, Lysozyme, Attacin A and B. Discovery and characterization of Hemolin, encoding a self/nonself recognition molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin gene superfamily. Revelation of NFkB homologs and the importance of kB elements in insect immune gene regulation.
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
 a) To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying the anti-parasitic immune response, with specific focus on the refractory and susceptible vector insects.
 b) To set up broad screening methods for parasite specific defense proteins and factors in non-vector insects.
 c) To stop malaria transmission through transgenic mosquito gut bacteria expressing antiparasitic factors.study the apicoplast Clp proteins in Plasmodium for use as possible drug targets.

Anna Färnert

Karolinska Institutet

Expertise: Molecular epidemiology, Immunity

Background and objectives: P. falciparum infections are composed of diverse parasite populations. Genotyping of infections in relation to clinical status in longitudinal studies in different transmission areas. The main objectives are:
- to understand the epidemiology of the antigenic and genetic diversity of P. falciparum
- to study the dynamics of parasite populations in the human host
- to investigate parasite diversity in relation to acquisition and maintenance of protective malaria immunity, and with regards to new control interventions.

Lars L. Gustafsson

Huddinge University Hospital

Expertise: Clinical Pharmacology

Background and objectives: We have 20 years of experience in developing specific and field adapted drug analytical methods for the measurement of antiparasitic, especially antimalarial, drugs. We have extensive experience in designing and carrying out clinical drug studies and clinical trials. We focus on developing rational drug treatment regimens and understanding variability in drug response due to interethnic differences in drug metabolism and in interethnic factors. Our group is collaborating in developing state of the art computerised tools for drug prescribing and research (http://www.janusinfo.org) that we are implementing in our research collaboration. We have collaborated extensively with groups in Africa, Asia and USA and have trained 15-20 foreign scientists in recent 20 years.
The main objectives of the projects are as follows:
 a) To understand the importance of and the mechanisms of variability in human drug response to antiparasitic and antimalarial drugs used in treatment of major diseases in Africa and Asia
 b) To quantify the process of antimalarial drug resistance development and its relationship to drug exposure and gene mutations in malaria parasites
 c) Integration of WEB-site technology in research training and multicentre clinical trial studies.

Thomas G. T. Jaenson

Uppsala University

Expertise: Medical Entomology

Background and objectives: For the last three decades the head of the Medical Entomology Unit at Uppsala University, Dr. Thomas Jaenson has been teaching medical entomology and carried out research on malaria mosquitoes and other vectors of human disease, both in Sweden and in African countries (Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Nigeria). He has directed two large-scale projects in West Africa, aiming at reducing vector-borne diseases, i.e., African trypanosomiasis and human malaria. In the latter project, anti-mosquito bed nets drastically reduced malarial disease among a human population of about 50.000 people.
The main objectives of the present projects are as follows:
The Medical Entomology Unit is presently involved in research on malaria mosquito ecology and behaviour in Kenya, Guinea-Bissau, Guatemala and Sweden. The main aim is to investigate traditionally used, naturally produced chemical compounds to evaluate their potential as repellents or insecticides for control of malaria mosquitoes and other important disease vectors. We collaborate with national and international groups of scientists.

Dorothe Spillman

Uppsala University

Expertise: Parasite Glycobiology

Background and objectives: Characterization of interactions between glycans, especially glycosaminoglycans, and different proteins, both soluble, endogenous factors as well as proteins from parasites and microbes. Experienced in isolation and structural characterization of carbohydrate chains, chemical modification of glycosaminoglycans, different forms of binding assays, carbohydrates as competitors in culture systems, isolation of receptor molecules. General glycobiology.
The main objectives of the projects are as follows:
To characterize the interaction between parasital cell surface proteins binding to host cell glycosaminoglycans. Molecular elucidation of interaction in order to design competitors for attachment.

Göte Swedberg

Uppsala University

Expertise: Drug resistance

Background and objectives: 25 years of experience in antibacterial and antimalarial drug resistance focusing on antifolates. 10 years of experience in international collaborations with Vietnam and Uganda.
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
 a) Studies on enzymes of the folate synthesis pathway, including the known drug target dihydropteroate synthase. Identification of potential new drug targets.
 b) Genotyping of malaria parasites by PCR-based analysis of parasite DNA in blood samples from patients undergoing anti-malaria therapy.

Kenneth Söderhäll

Uppsala University

Expertise: Melanotic Innate Immunity

Background and objectives: We have experience from working with innate immune reactions in arthropods with biochemical and molecular biology techniques. We have during the recent year developed proliferating blood cell cultures from two invertebrates to be used in these studies.
The main objective of the project is to make cell lines of refractory and susceptible Anopheles and investigate how malaria affects the proPO-system in a cell line from refractory and susceptible insects, respectively. Information gained on if and how malaria is causing the apparent lack of phenoloxidase and encapsulating activities, i.e. how it affects an innate immune system, in sucseptible mosquitos is of interest for the understanding of the fate of malaria in vector insects.

Ivor Tittawella

University of Umeå

Expertise: Apicoplast Drug Targeting

Background and objectives: We have been looking at the molecular biology of protozoan parasites for more than 12 years. We focus on protozoan organelles, including mitochondria and apicoplast of Plasmodium. We are particularly interested in the translational apparatus in these organelles, and have developed techniques and assays to elucidate it.
Main objective is to explore drug targets for Malaria. Plasmodium falciparum contains an organelle, the apicoplast, which is thought to be an endosymbiosed alga. These genes have a remarkable similarity to algal plastid genes and to bacterial genes. The apicoplast has therefore aroused much interest as a potential target for differential drug attack. It has, however, not been demonstrated if the apicoplast genes are translated, although some evidence suggests that they are transcribed. The project attempts to address this question both directly and indirectly.

Göran Tomson

Karolinska Institutet

Expertise: Pharmacoepidemiology

Background and objectives: Pharmacoepidemiology; clinical trials; anti malarial educational interventions; chemotherapy and drug resistance.

Marita Troye-Blomberg

Stockholm University

Expertise: Malaria Immunology

Background and objectives: Marita Troye-Blomberg has been working in the field since 1980 and been involved in dissecting immune responses, involved in immunity and/or pathogenesis of malaria, and mapping of T-and B-cell epitopes in two malaria vaccine candidate genes.
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
 a) to elucidate the role of triggering factors and cell receptors regulation the TH1/TH2 polarization of the human CD4+ T-cell responses underlying IgE production in P. falciparum malaria
 b) to establish the genetic factors, with special emphasis on cytokine gene promoter polymorphism, regulating the IgE poduction in malaria
 c) to investigate the protective and/or pathogenic functions of IgE (antibodies) in malaria,
 d) to develop a "surrogate" assay for measuring functionally distinct cellular responses.

Mats Wahlgren

Karolinska Institutet

Expertise: Parasitology

Background and objectives: Mats Wahlgren has been working for the last 20 years with the immuno-chemistry, cell-and molecular biology of primarily P. falciparum. He is the head of the parasitology section of the Microbiology and Tumour Biology Centre, Karolinska Institutet and the Swedish institute for Infectious Disease Control since 1993. The Karolinska Institutet and the Swedish institute for Infectious Disease Control centre, with its staff of 600, forms a large European centre for microbial work.