Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology

The bioinformatics programme at the WCIP uses computational and statistical methods to explore large datasets generated using technologies such as high-throughput sequencing, proteomics and metabolomics. Bioinformatics is used across the WCIP to understand the basic biology of parasites, mechanisms of attenuation and drug resistance, parasite ecology and host-parasite interactions. In addition to our exciting research programme we are establishing single-cell sequencing to explore the interface between host genetics and infectious disease in several parasites, we provide bioinformatics support to all researchers in WCIP labs, contribute to community resources such as EuPathDB and Companion, and run workshops locally and at our partner institutes in endemic regions.

Topic Advisor: Thomas Dan Otto

Helminth research in the WCIP ranges from molecular studies on immunology, population genetics and pharmacokinetics through to field epidemiology, anthropology, economics and engineering projects. We work on nematodes, such as Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Onchocerca volvulus, Onchocerca ochengi and Brugia malayi, and trematodes such as Schistosoma mansoni. We aim to understand the molecular basis for how helminths evade the mammalian immune responses as well as investigating their effects on autoimmune responses such as inflammatory bowel disease. In the field we aim to understand how best to improve treatment success at an individual level and how to reduce transmission at a community level.

Topic Advisor: Poppy Lamberton

We are studying how helminth (worm) parasites are able to manipulate and evade the immune system of the host; many of these parasites release potent immunosuppressive molecules that could be beneficial in treating inflammatory diseases, while unlocking the secret of their success is identifying new targets for vaccination against parasite infection.

Topic Advisor: Rick Maizels

Cross-cutting our molecular parasitology work, across several parasites that are major pathogens in humans and animals (Malaria, Trypanosomes, Toxoplasmosis, Schistosomiasis and other helminthic infections) we are studying the interaction between host and pathogen. We aim to understand parasite and host responses that lead to disease and how different parasites exploit the host environment to survive, proliferate and transmit. We are doing this in field and clinical studies in several Low and middle income countries, using tissue archives and using in vitro and animal models - benefiting significantly from our Parasite Imaging and Polyomics Core facilities. By studying these processes we aim to shed light on fundamental biological processes as well as identify targets for treatments, diagnostic tests and vaccines

Topic Advisor: Chris Moxon

Resistance to antimicrobial agents threatens our ability to treat many infectious diseases, including those caused by parasites.  The WCIP has an active programme in identifying the mechanisms of resistance to drugs in trypanosomes, leishmania, Plasmodium, Toxoplasma and parasitic helminths. The use of genome sequencing, proteomics and metabolomics, has underpinned the identification of multiple mechanisms of resistance and this has helped identify biomarkers than enable to tracking of the emergence of resistance and also the understanding of the processes driving drug resistance.

Topic Advisor: Mike Barrett

Imaging is a fundamental part in modern science; where researchers use different techniques to observe and characterise cells or tissues. There are different, cutting-edge imaging technologies available for members of the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology - through wide-field couple with deconvolution, intra vital imaging, confocal to super-resolution approaches, breaking the resolution limit of light. Also available are electron microscopy techniques, plus possibilities of correlative approaches. All these techniques helps the members of the WCIP in basic research (e.g. cellular remodelling, parasite-host interaction, characterising different life stage forms) through translation research. 

Topic Advisor: Leandro Lembgruber Soares

The WCIP does work to understand host and parasite genetic diversity and how this diversity contributes to disease. Wtith a particular interest in African trypanosome parasites. These parasites cause African sleeping sickness a debilitating and life-threatening disease affecting the poorest people in sub-Saharan Africa. They are transmitted by the bite of a tsetse fly as it takes a blood meal. Once inoculated into the bloodstream of a person the parasite multiplies in the blood and in most cases it will eventually kill its host. Work is focused on investigating the mechanisms by which some strains of the parasite are able to infect people and cause disease, while others cannot, and why some humans are more susceptible to disease than others. This information will ultimately help us understand the infection and transmission process and how we can prevent infection and control disease. 

Topic Advisor: Annette MacLeod

We have multiple research groups working on malaria at the WCIP, with a primary focus on blood stage parasites. The teams are interested in various aspects of the molecular and cell biology of these stages, including their transmission to the mosquito vector. Particular areas of interest include host parasite interactions and signaling, parasite tissue sequestration, mechanisms of stage differentiation and processes of mosquito transmission. We are also interested to translate our findings for the development of novel diagnostics, drugs and vaccines.

Topic Advisor: Matt Marti

The Toxoplasma research group at the WCIP studies Toxoplasma cell biology with two main outcomes:

1. Expanding the repertoire of explored biological systems through understanding the cell biology of a divergent organisms from an understudied clade of eukaryotes. 2. Identifying and characterizing features that are unique to apicomplexan, common among them and that can be targeted by drugs, which thus bear potential as targets for intervention with diseases such as Toxoplasmosis and malaria.

Current ongoing projects in the group focus on the biogenesis of the endosymbiotic organelles, the apicoplast and the mitochondrion, on mechanisms of redox regulation and on iron acquisition and metabolism in T. gondii.

Topic Advisor: Lilach Shiener

Trypanosome research in WCIP is long-standing and varied, based around understanding the molecular genetics, cell biology and biochemistry of the parasite and its interactions with varied hosts. Reverse and forward genetics are used to examine single and multiple gene functions, and next generation nucleic acid sequencing strategies, as well as proteomic and metabolomic approaches, are used to holistically examine parasite and infected host biology. Potential drug targets that emerge from such work are being used for early stage drug discovery.

Topic Advisor: Richard McCulloch