Parasitology Core
The malaria parasites’ complex life cycle involves two hosts and multiple infection stages, which makes malaria research technically challenging since several of these stages can’t be produced in vitro. JHMRI parasite core is a unique resource established to support malaria researchers by providing easy access to each life-cycle stage of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, as well as the rodent malaria models.
Parasite Core is located on the fourth floor of the Bloomberg School of Public Health and is spatially integrated within the Insectary Core facility. It comprises a state-of-the-art tissue culture room with relevant equipment. Currently offered services include P. falciparum asexual blood and gametocyte stage cultures and both human and rodent Plasmodium sporozoite stages. Parasite Core has established state-of-the-art methods to produce all P. falciparum life stages and is actively pursuing research to develop new tools and assays. Custom services are available as fee-for-service, and as collaborative projects depending on resource availability. The currently offered custom services include, but are not limited to: 1. drug and vaccine efficacy assays; 2. immunofluorescence assays; 3. mosquito infection and transmission-blocking assays; and 4. generation of transgenic parasites.
For more information about the JHMRI Parasite Core services and collaboration opportunities, please contact us:
George Dimopoulos, Facility Director; Abhai Tripathi, Facility Co-Director; Godfree Mlambo, Facility Manager.