Identifying novel anti-malarial transmission blocking vaccine targets on the parasitic zygote
Applications are invited for a fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship based in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge under the supervision of Dr Andrew Blagborough starting January 2026.
Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, remains a devastating infectious disease. Within the mosquito, a malaria parasite undergoes a complex and delicate lifecycle that can be terminated at multiple stages with the use of transmission blocking vaccines (TBVs). One of the most precarious stages of this lifecycle is the formation of a motile zygote, termed an “ookinete”, in the mosquito midgut after a bloodmeal. Two related immune-dominant molecules, called P25 and P28, expressed on the surface of the ookinete, are proven to confer transmission blocking immunity after vaccination with lab-produced TBVs. Aside from this, our knowledge of ookinete surface proteins that can initiate an immunological response and anti-parasitic effect is limited, preventing the generation of new TBVs targeting the ookinete.
To enable the generation of further anti-malarial vaccines, this project aims to utilise novel genetically altered parasites to identify novel (non-P25 or -P28) TBV targets on the ookinete surface. The discovery of these proteins will be key in increasing the number of TBV antigens currently available.
The following research aims will be achieved; (i) Identification of novel antigens on the ookinete surface by applying proteomics and mass spectrometry; (ii) generation of antibodies against individual proteins to assess their transmission-blocking efficacy in mosquito feeds; and (iii) phenotypic characterisation of newly-identified molecules using gene knockouts and fluorescent protein tagging.
Funding* will cover the student’s stipend at the current Research Council rate and Home University Fees. The studentship will be funded for four years from January 2026. *The studentships are available to students who qualify for UK Home fees only. Please check your eligibility here.
Applicants should hold (or expect to obtain) the equivalent of a high UK 2.1 or higher in an undergraduate honours or Masters degree in a relevant subject. The studentship is open to those eligible for the Home rate of University fees.
All applications should be made online via the University’s Applicant Portal for a PhD in Pathology (BLPA22). Applications should include academic transcripts, CV and 2 references.
An application is only complete when all supporting documents, including the 2 academic references, are submitted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their referees submit their references before the closing date. Please also explain your motivation why you wish to pursue a PhD in this area, outline your research interests and background, and describe the qualities and experience you will bring to the role.
Closing date: 6th July 2025
