GRK 2290: Crossing Boundaries: Molecular Interactions in Malaria

疟疾仍然是对人类健康和世界经济的重大全球威胁。它是由五种疟原虫、节肢动物传播的单细胞真核病原体引起的。疟疾是最复杂的传染病之一，疾病动力学和寄生虫-宿主串扰的许多原理仍有待破译。媒介按蚊种群对杀虫剂的广泛耐受性、缺乏有效疫苗以及观察到该寄生虫对市场上每一种已获批准的抗疟疾药物的抗药性，促使需要创新的方法和产品，以实现持续和大规模消除疟疾。对疟原虫感染的分子洞察可以产生新的循证策略，以开发治疗和预防药物，并创建可获得持久保护的免疫策略。柏林-堪培拉联盟渴望通过一个国际研究培训小组(IRTG)解决疟疾的根本问题。该计划包括四个项目领域，(A)营养吸收和新陈代谢，(B)寄生虫遗传和适应，(C)免疫反应，和(D)宿主遗传和反应。在这些联盟中，研究人员将获得培养的恶性疟原虫寄生虫、强大的伯氏疟原虫小鼠疟疾模型、感染疟疾的斯氏按蚊、感染患者的临床样本和异源表达系统。在真正的全球伙伴关系中进行尖端疟疾研究将是一次关键的经历，并为所有研究生解决复杂问题和驾驭国际合作做好准备。这个研究生项目是特别的，因为所有的研究项目都将在柏林和堪培拉的两个著名的疟疾研究机构联合进行。注册的学生将在合作机构呆一年，从而受益于两个地点的协同效应、专业知识和技术。IRTG的学生将毕业于柏林洪堡大学和澳大利亚国立大学。一个定制的培训计划将帮助博士生获得关键技能，为他们应对日益全球化和竞争日益激烈的公共和私人就业市场做好准备。与非学术伙伴的自愿实习以及创新和持续的电子学习计划将进一步促进互联互通的环境。毕业生将是独立的、跨学科的、创新的研究人员，他们对科学知识做出了重大贡献，并成熟为拥有深厚分析和解决问题技能的主权知识分子。疟疾的医学重要性、研究协同作用和在两个首都城市的国际培训计划将成为未来国际合作和研究网络的核心。

Malaria continues to be a major global threat to human health and the world’s economies. It is caused by five species of Plasmodium, arthropod-borne single-cell eukaryotic pathogens. Malaria is one of the most complex infectious diseases and many principles in disease dynamics and parasite-host crosstalk remain to be deciphered. Widespread tolerance against insecticides in the Anopheles vector population, the lack of an effective vaccine and observed resistance of the parasite against every approved antimalarial drug on the market instigates the need of innovative approaches and products to achieve sustained and large-scale malaria elimination. Molecular insights into Plasmodium infections can generate novel evidence-based strategies to develop curative and prophylactic drugs and create immunization strategies that elicit lasting protection. The Alliance Berlin-Canberra aspires to address fundamental problems in malaria through an international research training group (IRTG). The program covers four project areas, (A) Nutrient uptake and Metabolism, (B) Parasite Genetics and Adaptations, (C) Immune Responses, and (D) Host Genetics and Responses. Within these alliance researchers will have access to cultured Plasmodium falciparum parasites, the robust Plasmodium berghei murine malaria model, Plasmodium-infected Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, clinical samples from infected patients, and heterologous expression systems. Performing cutting-edge malaria research in a truly global partnership will be a pivotal experience and prepare all graduate students to solve complex problems and navigate international collaborations. This graduate program is exceptional since all research projects will be jointly performed at two prominent malaria research institutions in Berlin and Canberra. Enrolled students will spend one year at the partner institution, thereby benefitting from the synergy, expertise and technology at both sites. IRTG students will graduate with dual affiliation from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Australian National University. A customized training program will support the PhD students in acquiring critical skills to prepare them for increasingly globalized and competitive public and private job markets. Voluntary internships with non-academic partners and an innovative and continuous e-learning program will further promote an interconnected environment. Graduates will be independent, interdisciplinary, innovative researchers, who have substantially contributed to scientific knowledge and matured into sovereign intellectuals with profound analytical and problem-solving skills. The medical importance of malaria, research synergy, and international training program in two capital cities will act as a nucleus for future international collaboration and research networks.