The Cooke Laboratory: from left to right, Ghizal Siddiqui, Nick Proellocks, Kit Kennedy, Rimi Chakrabarti, Kartika Setyabudi, Brian Cooke, Sejal Gohil, Charles Ma, Svenja Günther.
Research Activities:
Research in our laboratory focuses broadly on understanding the ways in which parasites of red blood cells cause disease and death in humans or animals and how we might develop new drugs or vaccines to protect or prevent them. The lab comprises a young, dynamic group of vibrant and talented individuals who perform internationally-competitive multi-disciplinary research of the highest possible standard. In addition, we provide a friendly and helpful environment in which students can gain knowledge and expertise in the process of modern biomedical research as we train them for their future career.
Malaria Group
Cooke Lab Malaria Group: from left to right, Charles Ma, Brian Cooke, Kit Kennedy, Nick Proellocks, Ghizal Siddiqui, Rimi Chakrabarti, Kartika Setyabudi.
Studies on malaria
Malaria causes severe morbidity, mortality and socio-economic hardship particularly in Africa, South America and Asia. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, with at least five species known to infect humans. Symptoms, including fever, chills, headaches and anaemia, are attributable to replication of parasites within red blood cells (RBCs) and vary in severity depending on the parasite species and the immune status of the person infected. In the case of falciparum malaria, serious complications can arise due to sequestration of parasitised RBCs (pRBCs) in the microvasculature of the brain or the placenta resulting in cerebral malaria and pregnancy associated malaria respectively. Research in our laboratory focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon. The sequencing of the complete malaria genome has enabled us to identify a number of novel parasite proteins exported into the host RBC which are involved in the process of RBC modification. Using a range of techniques and platform technologies, we are characterising a variety of exported parasite proteins and mapping their interactions with components of the RBC membrane skeleton. We are confirming the role that these interactions play in altered mechanical and adhesive properties of pRBCs. Our research is helping to better understand precisely how P. falciparum causes severe disease and will ultimately aid in the development of new drugs and vaccines.
Immunofluorescence localisation of exported malaria proteins
Ghizal Siddiqui
Nick Proellocks and Ghizal Siddiqui
Babesia Group
Cooke Lab Babesia Group: from left to right, Sejal Gohil, Rimi Chakrabarti, Brian Cooke, Svenja Günther.
Studies on Babesia
Babesia bovis is an important haemoprotozoan parasite of cattle that shows striking similarities with human malaria parasites. The disease is of major national and international importance and imposes huge economic burdens on the beef and dairy industries. A better understanding the basic biology of these parasites and the relationship between parasites and their host is required for the development of anti-parasitic vaccines, drugs and new therapeutic regimens for this important disease. We are also interested in learning more about the basic biology of this parasite since it offers a unique opportunity to answer important questions about malaria infection that are not currently possible to perform in humans. Projects on Babesia focus on the identification and characterisation of novel exported proteins and determination of their likely function in the infected host.
Top: Sejal Gohil
Bottom: Svenja Günther
Sejal Gohil, Brian Cooke
Collaborations:
- New York Blood Centre,
- National University of Singapore
- Kings College, London
- University of Birmingham Medical School, UK
- The Walter & Eliza Hall Institute
- Animal Research Institute, Brisbane, Qld
- Tick Fever Centre, Wacol, Qld
Cooke Group Team Members:
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Prof. Brian Cooke |
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Dr Nicholas Proellocks (Research Fellow) |
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Ms Sejal Gohil (PhD Student) |
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Ms Ghizal Siddiqui (PhD Student) |
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Ms Rimi Chakrabarti (PhD Student) |
Funding
- NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship
- NHMRC Project Grants
- NIH RO1
- NIH Program Grant
- ARC Discovery Project Grant
