Malaria infections have plagued humanity for millennia, currently threatening over 40% of the global population. By studying malaria parasites, we can discover innovative ways to combat the disease and gain insights into other pathogens and their hosts. Currently most anti-malarial drugs target proteins. However, the lipid metabolism of the parasite offers novel avenues for intervention. During the talk we will investigate differences in lipid acquisition and utilisation between parasite and host and explore their potential to fight malaria and other parasitic diseases.

Alex is a Professor at the Research School of Biology at the Australian National University in Canberra. Through functional genomic, cell biological and biochemical approaches he and his team are trying to untangle the molecular machinery underlying key survival mechanisms of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. His interests include host cell remodeling, lipid metabolism and sexual differentiation. More generally, he is fascinated by the question how parasite-host interactions shape the web of life. Alex is a dedicated educator and shares his passion for parasites with students and the public at large.