ASP Online Seminar Series: Friday 20 November at 1pm AEDT

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.