Imaging the Malaria parasite Santa Maria College Jessica, Phuong, Catherine, Syliva, Mai & Vivian 3/07/2012
What we believed science was • Stereotypes of scientists a. They play video games b. Their work is solitary c. They wear lab coats everywhere d. They wear glasses e. They are antisocial like Sheldon Cooper 3/07/2012
How is this project related to a real world problem? • 1 million people die every year from Malaria • Affects mostly pregnant women and children • 3 billion people (40% of world population) are at risk of malaria • Majority of deaths are in Africa 3/07/2012
What do we mean by integrated science? • Scientists from different areas come together to work together • Some of your ideas may be important for other people from different areas • E.g. Bio 21 Institute 3/07/2012
The project goal • To understand how interactions between scientific disciplines can aid research • To understand the biology of the parasite • To understand the technology behind the scientific research 3/07/2012
Jessica Castro Scope of Institute • Bio 21 opened in June 2005 • Major research centre links research with technology • Advancement of technology allows scientists to answer questions • Platform and expertise of institute reflect research priorities 3/07/2012
Jessica Castro Aim of Bio 21 • Biotechnological innovation through research in biomedical, agricultural and environmental biotechnology • Establish platform technology available to wide spread science and industrial community • Translate research into education, economical and community benefits • Enhance research and training programs • Forum community debate 3/07/2012
Jessica Castro Platform Technology • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance • Mass spectrometry and proteomics • Peptide technology • Metabolomics Australia • Advanced Microscopy facility -Electron Microscopes -Fluorescent microscopes 3/07/2012
Phuong Lam Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoa Plasmodium Transmitted by the Anophele mosquito 3 billion people are at risk of malaria (40% of world population) The current number of infections world wide each year is 250 million In Africa a child dies every 45 seconds of Malaria 3/07/2012
Phuong Lam 2 1 3 4 5 6 9 3/07/2012
Phuong Lam Mosquito control Vaccine Drugs 3/07/2012
Catherine Zhang Plasmodium falciparum is responsible for the most serious type of malaria P. falciparum infected red blood cells stick to the inside of blood vessels The parasite is able to avoid recapture and be destructed by the spleen due to this The stickiness causes blood vessel blockage and anaemia Infected parasites become sticky because of a protein found on the surface of infected erythrocytes PfEMP1- Plasmodium falciparum Erythrocyte Membrane Protein 1 3/07/2012
Catherine Zhang PfEMP1 PfEMP1 is produced inside the parasite and exported to the surface of the red blood cell As red blood cells (erythrocytes) have no protein export system, parasites build their own export stations These are called Maurer’s cleft and hold the proteins before they move to the membrane of the red blood cell The PfEMP1 is held in knobs found on the membrane 3/07/2012
Catherine Maurer’s Clefts and Knobs Zhang Maurer’s clefts are export stations built Knobs appear in the early trophozoite by the parasite and assist in the stages in the life cycle of the parasite They provide an elevation for the trafficking of PfEMP1 from the parasite to the membrane PfEMP1 and assist in the sticking to the blood vessels 3/07/2012
Sylvia Xiao The Electron Microscope • High quality facility • The limit of resolution of our cells depend on the wavelength of light Two types • Scanning EM • Transmission EM 3/07/2012
Sylvia Xiao Electron Microscope advantages and how it helps in the science community • Higher magnification and resolution for structural investigation of biological molecules • Able to view small samples and inside them • Able to view in 3D and can produce tomograpies • Aids scientists in the process of research to discover new information about the organism they are researching about. 3/07/2012
Sylvia Xiao Preparation of samples for electron microscopes • Cells must be dead • It takes a week of preparation • The process of preparation 3/07/2012
Mai Kieu Visible light 3/07/2012
Mai Kieu How fluorescence works The emission of light from a structure following the absorption of light • Small Chemicals • Proteins (e.g. GFP) These have specific absorbance & emission wavelengths Emission is a longer wavelength than Absorbance due to the energy lost (Stokes Shift) 3/07/2012
Mai Kieu Fluorescence 3/07/2012
Vivian Bui The Australian Synchrotron What is a Synchrotron? It is a really big, circular, megavoltage machine that is the size of an average football field. What does it do? It produces high energy electrons that are forced to travel in a circular orbit inside the tunnels of the synchrotrons of magnetic fields. Other places where there are a synchrotron? There are over 50 worldwide How is it designed? The Synchrotron is designed in 6 parts. 3/07/2012
Vivian Bui Beamlines IMBL (Imaging & Medical Beamline) Main Technique used: X-ray imaging of biomedical samples Applicable Areas of Research: Biologist, Doctors, Hospitals PD (Powder Diffraction) Main Technique used: Investigate protein structures Applicable Areas of Research: Biologist XFM (X-ray Fluorescence Microscope) Main technique used: To detect elements inside a material Applicable Areas of Research: Biologist, Industry, Damaged of things (eg. Paintings) 3/07/2012
Vivian Bui Beamlines PDX XFM IMBL 3/07/2012
Further Areas or Questions to Investigate From the results we gained, we can see that there is a need in research for the following: • Continue research into PfEMP1 trafficking • The process of the development of the vaccine • Further research into drug targets and other interventions 3/07/2012
What was interesting about the science that is happening in this lab? • Sample preparation • The transmission electron microscopes • NMR cave • Mass spec • 3D-SIM 3/07/2012
Why Should We care about the Research? • Because malaria affects 40% of the world population • Australia is surrounded by countries that have Malaria so it is important to keep Australia malaria free • Developed countries can help developing countries to fight malaria 3/07/2012
How is it relevant to other sciences? • Physics and Engineering are needed for the development of the microscopes • Chemistry is needed for the development of novel drugs • Biology is needed to investigate the biological ideas of organisms at a cellular level related to malaria 3/07/2012
How Has Our View of Science or Scientists Changed? • Scientists don’t wear lab coats around - just in the laboratory • They’re not that intelligent • They are not the stereotypes the media presents them • Have more time flexibility • Takes a lot more time and dedication than what is portrayed in the media • Scientists are not all old like Einstein • The questions are not necessarily simple and there is not always a right answer 3/07/2012
What Have We Learnt? • Use different instruments / Experimental techniques such as 1. Electron microscope 2. Microtome 3. Fluorescent microscope (Blaze/Scorch) • Team Work 1. Observing teamwork within the groups • Organization 1. Lab meetings are organized 2. Organized for experimental work • Problem Solving • Communication • Interacting in the lab • Presenting at lab meetings 3/07/2012
What choices have opened up to me In Possible Career Choices? • Lab head • Research assistant • Post doctoral researcher • Lecturers • Demonstrating • Industry (sales or research) 3/07/2012
How has being part of GTP changed my appreciation for physical science? • I find science a bit more easier and think that it is easy to do and experiment after having proper understanding about what we are doing • Science is not all just about specific facts but can be fun and interesting • Science is a part of everything and everyone • It is a subject that can be for anyone • Scientists can be successful as long as they are persistent • Society requires science • It is more entertaining than a text book although it is harder than just reading a text book 3/07/2012
Acknowledgements • The ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X- Ray Science: Paul McMillan, Coralie Millet, Megan Dearnley, Shannon Kenny, Silvia Teguh, Mauro Maiorca & Leann • The Growing Tall Poppies Program Developer: Dr Eroia Barone-Nugent, Santa Maria College • NAB Schools First & Catholic Education Office • Bio21 Institute: Helen Varnavas, Nick Williamson, David Keizer, Eric Hanssen 3/07/2012
Recommend
More recommend
