Parasites can infect humans, animals and plants causing severe problems such as Malaria and reduced crop production.

About

A website for Orientation week.

Groups

A group of seven diverse people smiling and standing together in front of a building with greenery.

We use powerful biological resources provided by C. elegans to study aspects of nematode biochemistry, molecular biology and behaviour, and control methods.

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A digital molecular model showing a complex protein embedded within a cellular membrane, surrounded by blue and red molecules, with chemical structures displayed below.

The Brock lab loves membrane proteins; looking at them in atomic detail, discovering new drug molecules, and engineering them to create new biosensors. Join us!

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Five people smiling and sitting at an outdoor bench in a parklike setting with trees and a building in the background.

We study membrane transport processes in the Plasmodium parasites that cause malaria.

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Maier group

The Maier Group focusses on the identification of molecules involved in malaria pathogenesis and transmission.

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Fluorescent microscopy image showing a red-stained filamentous structure with a detailed blue-highlighted component at the top, all set against a dark background.

We are interested in the molecular mechanisms controlling nodule development in legumes, and how this is linked to other aspects of root architecture.

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Logo for ANU Bee Lab featuring a stylized bee above the letters "ANU" with "BEE LAB" in a yellow rectangle.

Our research actually spans may study systems and research questions. But the evolution of honey bee parasites and diseases and is a major focus.

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A close-up of a mosquito feeding on human skin, with a droplet of blood visible.

The Saliba Group is investigating vitamin utilisation pathways in the red blood cell stage of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

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Group photo

We study the basic biology of parasites, with the hope that such knowledge can be used in developing new treatment options against these formidable foes.

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Projects

The malaria parasite has an active metabolism, importing nutrients, exporting metabolic wastes and generating a wide range of metabolic intermediates.

The role of solute and ion transporters in apicomplexan biology

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

The intracellular life-style of Plasmodium poses particular challenges for meeting the parasite's demand for lipids. The roles of lipids include membrane components, energy storage and signalling. In this project we will use cutting-edge bioinformatic to model the lipid flow and biochemical, imaging and genetic approaches to identify, characterise and validate malaria lipids as novel drug targets.

Student intake

Open for PhD students

People

The best treatment for Malaria is currently via the combination of the drugs Artemisin and Piperaquine, but emerging resistance to both of these front-line antimalarial drugs means there is an urgent need for new treatment options and a better understanding of resistance mechanisms.

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

Malaria parasite proteins involved in ion homeostasis show promise as much-needed new drug targets.

Student intake

Open for PhD students

People

Elucidating mitochondrial biology in apicomplexan parasites

Student intake

Open for Bachelor, Honours, Master, PhD students

People

News

Toxoplasma gondii

Studies have shown that some parasites can control their hosts, manipulating their behaviour often to the benefit of the parasites.

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parasite kaledascope

Tunan (Nicole) Yu discusses Horwitz and Wilcox (2005) and taking a multi-faceted view towards parasites to manage disease risk.

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The Red Queen's Race, as depicted by John Tenniel in Chapter Two – The Garden of Live Flowers

"How could I have been so naive to think that parasites would not have an intrinsic role to play in every ecosystem considering the fundamentals of evolution?" muses Samantha Shippley in this blog post.

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Mosquito

A study led by researchers at ANU could lead to new treatments for combating drug-resistant malaria, as well as boost existing drugs.

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Parasites have a crucial role in the earth’s ecosystem and are often left out of the climate change conversation. A blog post by Margot Schneider

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Varroa_destructor_on_honeybee_host-public-domain-United States Department of Agriculture

Why is the Varroa Mite so virulent considering they are completely reliant on their bee hosts for transport, reproduction and as their sole food source?

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