Understanding the superinfection process in Plasmodium falciparum

Mary's aim is to understand the superinfection process in malaria. This is a common feature in Plamodium falciparum whereby an infected host acquires new infections before clearing existing ones, and occurs in hosts who have built a measurable amount of immunity. It has an epidemiological impact in that it is a parasite strategy to increase transmission from available resources and promotes genetic diversity through recombination in the mosquito. Mary will work on understanding this by studying the pattern of acquisition and clearance of malaria parasite infections as immunity is acquired and examining the impact of different malaria transmission intensities on the pattern of multiplicity of infection by age.

This grant was awarded under the scheme's previous name of Master's Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.