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About

We have a strong interest in host-parasite interactions that govern successful malaria infection. In particular we study parasite proteins that are required for entry into red blood cells that are completely exposed to human immune system.

My lab combines molecular, cellular and structural biology methods with parasitology to study the mechanisms by which parasite proteins recognise and bind to human proteins. Using this information, we design and generate new inhibitors or antibodies that is able to block the interaction and hence, stop the recurrent infection in the host.

We work closely with partners in malaria endemic regions to ensure that our research remains relevant in combating this disease.

Publications

Selected publications from Prof Wai-Hong Tham

Winnicki AC, Dietrich MH, Yeoh LM, Carias LL, Roobsoong W, Drago CL, Malachin AN, Redinger KR, Feufack-Donfack LB, Baldor L, Jung NC, McLaine OS, Skomorovska-Prokvolit Y, Orban A, Opi DH, Kirtley P, Nielson K, Aleshnick M, Zanghi G, Rezakhani N, Vaughan AM, Wilder BK, Sattabongkot J, Tham W-H, Popovici J, Beeson JG, Bosch J, King CL. Potent AMA1-specific human monoclonal antibody against Plasmodium vivax Pre-erythrocytic and Blood Stages. Nature Communications. 2024;15(1):10.1038/s41467-024-53848-4

Dans MG, Boulet C, Watson GM, Nguyen W, Dziekan JM, Evelyn C, Reaksudsan K, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Mlodzianoski MJ, Goodman CD, Ling DB, Jonsdottir TK, Tong J, Famodimu MT, Kristan M, Pollard H, Stewart LB, Brandner-Garrod L, Sutherland CJ, Delves MJ, McFadden GI, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Rogers KL, Cowman AF, Tham W-H, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. Author Correction: Aryl amino acetamides prevent Plasmodium falciparum ring development via targeting the lipid-transfer protein PfSTART1. Nature Communications. 2024;15(1):10.1038/s41467-024-52849-7

Winnicki AC, Dietrich MH, Yeoh LM, Carias LL, Roobsoong W, Drago CL, Malachin AN, Redinger KR, Feufack-Donfack LB, Baldor L, Jung NC, McLaine OS, Skomorovska-Prokvolit Y, Orban A, Opi DH, Kirtley P, Nielson K, Aleshnick M, Zanghi G, Rezakhani N, Vaughan AM, Wilder BK, Sattabongkot J, Tham W-H, Popovici J, Beeson JG, Bosch J, King CL. Potent AMA1-specific human monoclonal antibody against P. vivax Pre-erythrocytic and Blood Stages. 2024;5(02-16):10.1101/2024.02.07.579302

Anstey NM, Tham W-H, Shanks GD, Poespoprodjo JR, Russell BM, Kho S. The biology and pathogenesis of vivax malaria. Trends in Parasitology. 2024;40(7):10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.015

Dans MG, Boulet C, Watson GM, Nguyen W, Dziekan JM, Evelyn C, Reaksudsan K, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Mlodzianoski MJ, Goodman CD, Ling DB, Jonsdottir TK, Tong J, Famodimu MT, Kristan M, Pollard H, Stewart LB, Brandner-Garrod L, Sutherland CJ, Delves MJ, McFadden GI, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Rogers KL, Cowman AF, Tham W-H, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. Aryl amino acetamides prevent Plasmodium falciparum ring development via targeting the lipid-transfer protein PfSTART1. Nature Communications. 2024;15(1):10.1038/s41467-024-49491-8

Adair A, Tan LL, Feng J, Girkin J, Bryant N, Wang M, Mordant F, Chan L-J, Bartlett NW, Subbarao K, Pymm P, Tham W-H. Human coronavirus OC43 nanobody neutralizes virus and protects mice from infection. Journal of Virology. 2024;98(6):10.1128/jvi.00531-24

Nguyen W, Boulet C, Dans MG, Loi K, Jarman KE, Watson GM, Tham W-H, Fairhurst KJ, Yeo T, Fidock DA, Wittlin S, Chowdury M, de Koning-Ward TF, Chen G, Yan D, Charman SA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Activity refinement of aryl amino acetamides that target the P. falciparum STAR-related lipid transfer 1 protein. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2024;270:10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116354

Chen J, Neil JA, Tan JP, Rudraraju R, Mohenska M, Sun YBY, Walters E, Bediaga NG, Sun G, Zhou Y, Li Y, Drew D, Pymm P, Tham WH, Wang Y, Rossello FJ, Nie G, Liu X, Subbarao K, Polo JM. A placental model of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals ACE2-dependent susceptibility and differentiation impairment in syncytiotrophoblasts. Nature Cell Biology. 2023;25(8):10.1038/s41556-023-01182-0

Haycroft ER, Davis SK, Ramanathan P, Lopez E, Purcell RA, Tan LL, Pymm P, Wines BD, Hogarth PM, Wheatley AK, Juno JA, Redmond SJ, Gherardin NA, Godfrey DI, Tham W-H, Selva KJ, Kent SJ, Chung AW. Antibody Fc-binding profiles and ACE2 affinity to SARS-CoV-2 RBD variants. Medical Microbiology and Immunology. 2023;212(4):10.1007/s00430-023-00773-w

Rudraraju R, Gartner MJ, Neil JA, Stout ES, Chen J, Needham EJ, See M, Mackenzie-Kludas C, Lee LYY, Wang M, Pointer H, Karavendzas K, Abu-Bonsrah D, Drew D, Sun YBY, Tan JP, Sun G, Salavaty A, Charitakis N, Nim HT, Currie PD, Tham W-H, Porrello E, Polo JM, Humphrey SJ, Ramialison M, Elliott DA, Subbarao K. Parallel use of human stem cell lung and heart models provide insights for SARS-CoV-2 treatment. Stem Cell Reports. 2023;18(6):10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.05.007

Lab research projects

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