Research Interests

Characterisation of transporters and their splice variants

Research Area

We work on the identification, heterologous expression, and characterisation of membrane transport proteins (also known as transporters). Transporters control the movement of ions, nutrients, and waste products across the membranes of a cell and are central to its physiology. Proteins of this type also serve as drug targets and/or mediators of drug transport and hence play key roles in the phenomenon of drug resistance. We have a particular interest in the transporters involved in drug action and drug resistance in the malaria parasite. The malaria parasite is a single-celled microorganism which invades the red blood cells of its host. Malaria remains a major infectious disease in many parts of the world, causing over 200 million cases and around 500,000 deaths per year. Moreover, malaria imposes horrendous economic burdens upon afflicted countries. An effective vaccine remains elusive and reliance on chemotherapy is under serious threat with the emergence of parasites that are resistant to most, if not all, of the current antimalarial drugs. Our main experimental system is the unfertilised oocyte of the frog Xenopus laevis, in which we express and study transporters from the parasite as well as transporters from a range of other organisms. We complement this system with live parasite assays that indirectly monitor the activity of a transporter within its native environment of the parasite-infected red blood cell.

Current Members

Martin, Rowena E (Principal Investigator/Director)
Babij, Simone K (Graduate Student)
Joule, Alex (Graduate Student)
Shafik, Sarah H (Graduate Student)
Zhang, Vicky (Graduate Student)

Additional Information

We use a range of biochemistry, cell physiology, molecular biology, chemistry, and bioinformatic techniques to study: *Transporters of the malaria parasite and of other Apicomplexan parasites, with an emphasis on those involved in drug resistance and drug action *Design and testing of novel antimalarial drugs and antimalarial strategies *Transporters involved in key processes of biomedical, behavioural, or agricultural importance in other organisms, including those encoded by mammals, insects, and plants. *The functions and physiological roles of splice variants of transporters

Contact

Institution: The Australian National University

Address:
Martin Lab
Research School of Biology
The Australian National University
Building 134, Linnaeus Way
Canberra, ACT
2600, Australia

Web Page: https://biology.anu.edu.au/research/groups/martin-group-membrane-transport-proteins-malaria-parasite