Master's Project in Molecular Parasitology

Master's Project in Molecular Parasitology
Vector Biology Unit, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology

Project: Generating Highly Fluorescent Lines of Human Malaria Parasites to Study Mosquito Infection
Start Date: any time
Duration: 6 months internship + 6 months master’s thesis.

The Vector Biology Unit (Levashina lab) at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin is seeking a motivated student for a master's project focused on molecular cloning, genetic manipulation of malaria parasites, and characterization of mosquito infectivity by fluorescent parasites.

Fluorescent reporter lines are crucial for studying the malaria parasite life cycle. Current reporter lines of Plasmodium falciparum, the primary human malaria parasite, are not optimal for certain research applications. This project aims to design, generate, and characterize new parasite reporter lines that maintain mosquito infectivity while exhibiting strong constitutive fluorescence, suitable for studying all mosquito stages of the parasite.

Project Details and Goals

Generation and Characterization of Reporter Lines:

• Explore different fluorophores and insertion loci.
• Use molecular cloning techniques to create various plasmids for the genetic modification of P. falciparum.
• Develop highly fluorescent constitutive reporter lines of P. falciparum by inserting fluorescence cassettes into the parasite genome.

Evaluation of Fluorescence and Infectivity:

• Culture both asexual and sexual stages of the parasite.
• Use the developed reporter lines to infect mosquitoes.
• Assess fluorescence and mosquito infectivity from early to late infection stages.
• Ensure these lines effectively infect mosquitoes in laboratory settings.

Techniques You Will Learn

• Molecular cloning
• Bacterial culture
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Cell culture (malaria parasites)
• Malaria parasite transfection
• Mosquito rearing and dissection    
   

Contact Information

If you are interested in the project, please send your CV and letter of motivation to Dr. Juliane Lippmann: lippmann@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de