Date Time
Natural immunity to malaria provides clues to potential therapies
WEHI researchers have identified how natural human antibodies can block malaria parasites from entering red blood cells, potentially indicating how new protective therapies could be developed against this globally significant disease.
Dr Melanie Dietrich, Li Jin Chan and Associate Professor
Wai-Hong Tham
The research provides greater insight into how antibodies block the entry of Plasmodium vivax malaria parasites into young red blood cells called reticulocytes. It builds on an earlier discovery that the P. vivax latches onto the transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) to enter cells.
The research, led by Associate Professor Wai-Hong Tham and PhD student Li-Jin Chan from WEHI, alongside Professor Christopher King from Case Western University, US, was published in Nature Communications.
Date Time
Nanobodies inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection
Australian researchers have identified neutralising nanobodies that block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering cells in preclinical models.
The discovery paves the way for further investigations into nanobody-based treatments for COVID-19.
Visualisation of SARS-CoV-2 virus with nanobodies (purple)
attaching to the virus ‘spike’ protein.
Image: Dr Drew Berry in collaboration with
Associate Professor Wai-Hong Tham
Published in PNAS, the research is part of a consortium-led effort, bringing together the expertise of Australian academic leaders in infectious diseases and antibody therapeutics at WEHI, the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute.
At a glance
Researchers have identified nanobodies that effectively blocked the SARS-CoV-2 virus from entering cells in pre-clinical models of COVID-19 infection.
Date Time
Researchers unveil new time machine technique to measure cells
Using a new single-cell technique, WEHI researchers have uncovered a way to understand the programming behind how stem cells make particular cell types.
L-R: Dr Shalin Naik, Mr Luyi Tian, Dr Tom Weber
and Ms Sara Tomei
The research uncovered 30 new genes that program stem cells to make the dendritic cells that kick-start the immune response.
By uncovering this process, the researchers hope they will be able to find new immunotherapy treatments for cancer, and plan to expand this technique in other areas such as discovering new drug targets in tumour initiation.
Unravelling the mysteries of long COVID
updated 4
Share
Print text only
ABC News: Daniel Fermer)
Three previously healthy people in their 30s are still dealing with symptoms months after being infected with COVID-19. As Australia rolls out its vaccination program, sufferers are calling for more recognition of this emerging condition. It s no life, says Sarah Hughes. Being sick and having pain every day at the age of 34, when this should be the prime of my life, is just very hard to deal with. And I think that s probably what causes me the most depression out of all of this.
It has been eight months since Sarah s role as a senior nurse in aged care brought her into the thick of Melbourne s second wave of COVID-19.