Parasitology seminars
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November 2026
ASP Online Seminar Series: Friday 20 November at 1pm AEDT
Josh Levendis, Alex Harris· University of Melbourne
Josh Levendis examines how N6-methyladenosine RNA modification controls gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum. Nanopore direct RNA sequencing and GLORI-seq reveal enrichment near transcript ends. Inducible mislocalisation of methyltransferase depletes this modification and produces readthrough and chimeric transcripts, implicating methylation in correct polyadenylation and transcription termination. Stage-dependent modification of exons and retained introns may also regulate early termination during sexual development. Alex Harris investigates why protection from RTS,S malaria vaccination and seasonal chemoprevention declines despite annual boosters. Analyses of plasma from 1,929 West African children followed over four years assess antibody responses to different antigen regions and their variation with host factors, coinfections and micronutrients. The work examines declining booster responses and aims to inform strategies for durable vaccine protection.
Fri, Nov 20 · 02:00 UTC · Online
Recent recordings
2 recorded talksBiological invasions and epidemiology
Christophe Diagne· Senior Researcher, IRD
Introduced species can affect human, animal and ecosystem health through altered ecological interactions, disease transmission and changes to food security or well-being. This seminar first examines those direct and indirect effects, then considers how pathogens and parasites influence invasion success and evolution. Invasive rodents provide a detailed example linking these mechanisms within a One Health framework.
Recorded
Tapeworm larvae in the brain: cellular mechanisms of epilepsy in neurocysticercosis
Joseph Raimondo· University of Cape Town
Cerebral infection by the larvae of the cestode, Taenia solium (neurocysticercosis), is thought to be the leading cause of adult-acquired epilepsy worldwide. Despite this, little is known about the cellular mechanisms that underlie seizure development in this condition. In this talk I will present our recent data exploring multiple interactions between cestode larvae, neuroinflammatory processes and network excitability. We find that viable cestode larvae are able to strongly suppress microglial activation and inflammatory cytokine release with consequences for the modulation host neuroinflammatory responses and seizure development in vivo. At the same time, larvae produce and release glutamate, with acute excitatory effects on neuronal circuits. We hope that an improved understanding of epileptogenic mechanisms in neurocysticercosis will one day improve the management of this condition as well as other inflammatory causes of epilepsy.
Recorded