Title: Novel epigenetic pathways of virulence control in human malaria parasites

Summary:

The Merrick lab studies the biology and virulence of malaria parasites.  These parasites cause illness via the infection of human red blood cells.  Inside these cells they can vary the types of genes that they express in order to maximise their growth and virulence.  Much of this variation is epigenetic.  We understand a lot about how some epigenetic marks (histone acetylation and methylation) work in malaria parasites, but the Merrick lab is now investigating a novel epigenetic mark, lactylation, about which much remains unknown.  Histone lactylation was only discovered (in human cells) in 2019, and it is particularly interesting in malarial disease because malaria patients often develop hyperlactataemia, leading to potentially fatal respiratory distress.  Therefore, malaria parasites are often exposed to high levels of lactate, and epigenetic lactylation is well placed to act as a metabolic sensor, potentially regulating parasite virulence.

In this project, the student will work alongside a postdoctoral researcher investigating lactyl epigenetics in cultured malaria parasites.  For example, we are interested in whether lactylation might stimulate the modification of RNAs, and the student may therefore use biochemical techniques to investigate this, such as RNA preparation from parasite material, dot-blotting for RNA modifications, and analysis of transcriptomic data.   The student would join a highly collaborative lab of 6-8 researchers, based in the Pathology Dept, Tennis Ct Road.

Essential knowledge or skills:

Any skills in molecular biology or biochemistry, and any knowledge of parasitology (e.g. Part 1B BOD) or of epigenetics would be an advantage 

Supervisors:

Prof Catherine Merrick (Pathology, University of Cambridge): cjm48@cam.ac.uk

Dr Ibtissam Jabre (Pathology, University of Cambridge): ij283@cam.ac.uk