Prof. Preiser, Peter
My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms used by the malaria parasite to to avoid host immunity and adapt to changes in the host cell environment. We study malaria merozoite recognition and penetration of the erythrocyte. This has identified the Reticulocyte Binding Protein Homologues (RH) family of proteins as regulators of both merozoite as well as erythrocyte signalling that are required for successful invasion. In addition, we aim to understand the biological role of the small variant antigens like the STEVOR and PIR multigene families and have been able to demonstrate that they play important immune modulatory role and shield the infected RBC from immune clearance.
Drug resistance is a critical challenge in our efforts to control infectious diseases. Solutions require suitable diagnostic approaches along with the development of new drugs. We have therefore focused efforts to develop high sensitive, easy to use diagnostics tools and explored new therapeutic approaches not only for malaria parasite but also other microbial infections. Using a wide range of omic tools we have identified the epitranscriptome as an important regulator of resistance but also as potential new intervention target.
Research Areas
Infectious diseases, Antimicrobial resistance, Drug target identification, Epitranscriptomics, Plasmodium biology
Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Research Fellow
PhD Student
PhD Student
PhD Student
PhD Student
Project Officer
- Yong, J.J.M., Gao, X., Prakash, P., Ang, J.W., Lai, S.K., Chen, M.W., Neo, J.J.L., Lescar, J., Li, H.Y., and Preiser, P.R. “Red blood cell signaling is functionally conserved in Plasmodium invasion.” iScience 27, no. 10 (2024): 111052. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2024.111052 PMID: 39635131; PMCID: PMC11615254
- Lim, S.M., Cheng, H.L., Jia, H., Kongsuphol, P., D/O Shunmuganathan, B., Chen, M.W., Ng, S.Y., Gao, X., Turaga, S.P., Heussler, S.P., Somani, J., Sengupta, S., Tay, D.M.Y., McBee, M.E., Young, B.E., MacAry, P.A., Sikes, H.D., and Preiser, P.R. “Finger stick blood test to assess postvaccination SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody response against variants.” Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 7, no. 2 (2022): e10293. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10293 PMID: 35600666; PMCID: PMC9115707
- Ng, C.S., Sinha, A., Aniweh, Y., Nah, Q., Babu, I.R., Gu, C., Chionh, Y.H., Dedon, P.C., and Preiser, P.R. “tRNA epitranscriptomics and biased codon are linked to proteome expression in Plasmodium falciparum.” Molecular Systems Biology 14, no. 10 (2018): e8009. https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20178009 PMID: 30287681; PMCID: PMC6171970
- Peng, W.K., Kong, T.F., Ng, C.S., Chen, L., Huang, Y., Bhagat, A.A., Nguyen, N.T., Preiser, P.R., and Han, J. “Micromagnetic resonance relaxometry for rapid label-free malaria diagnosis.” Nature Medicine 20, no. 9 (2014): 1069–1073. https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.3622 Epub 2014 Aug 31. PMID: 25173428
- Niang, M., Bei, A.K., Madnani, K.G., Pelly, S., Dankwa, S., Kanjee, U., Gunalan, K., Amaladoss, A., Yeo, K.P., Bob, N.S., Malleret, B., Duraisingh, M.T., and Preiser, P.R. “STEVOR is a Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte binding protein that mediates merozoite invasion and rosetting.” Cell Host & Microbe 16, no. 1 (2014): 81–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2014.06.004 PMID: 25011110; PMCID: PMC4382205