Dr Michael Duffy did his PhD in Mycoplasma pneumoniae at the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Melbourne. This basic research identified a species-specific, immunodominant surface antigen that he developed into a serodiagnostic for atypical pneumonia currently produced under licence by a commercial company.
He then undertook post-doctoral research into the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum for the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, but based at the Eijkman Institute in Jakarta Indonesia. He returned to University of Melbourne where his research continued into the highly variable P. falciparum proteins expressed on the infected red blood cell surface in malaria. This work contributed to the identification and characterisation of a parasite protein responsible for malaria during pregnancy. Currently he is investigating parasite proteins responsible for severe malaria that might be exploited in vaccine development. In parallel he has investigated how elements of chromatin structure regulate gene expression in P. falciparum. This work developed through his study of the epigenetic control of antigenic variation in P. falciparum and has diversified into the broader study of unique chromatin proteins in P. falciparum, including variant histones and bromodomain proteins. The latter are of particular interest as potential therapeutic targets.
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Michael Duffy's highlights
FEATURED Journal article
Evolution of Antimalarial Drug Resistance Markers in the Reservoir of Plasmodium falciparum Infections in the Upper East Region of Ghana.
Read moreMichael Duffy's selected work
disease, leishmaniasis and cryptosporidiosis
Research Grant
The genes that turn malaria into a killer
NEWS ARTICLE
Trends Talk MAM 2020: Growing Strong on the 20th Anniversary
Journal article
THE ROLE OF NOVEL AND ESSENTIAL BROMODOMAIN PROTEINS IN COORDINATING MALARIA PARASITE GENE..
Research Grant
Developments in drug design strategies for bromodomain protein inhibitors to target Plasmo..
Journal article
Which malaria proteins are targets of protective immunity?
Research Grant
Michael Duffy's selected work
Projects
Displaying the 10 most recent projects by Michael Duffy.
Project Types
7
Research Grant
3
Internal Research Grant
Scholarly Works
Displaying the 10 most recent scholarly works by Michael Duffy.
News
Displaying the 1 most recent news article by Michael Duffy.
Honours, Awards and Fellowships
travel award $3,500
travel award $7,500
Early Career Researcher Award $33,864
Credentials
Positions
Positions
Senior Research Fellow
Microbiology And Immunology
Themis Dept Access
Medicine - Royal Melbourne Hospital
Honorary
Medicine - Royal Melbourne Hospital
Member
Australian Society for Microbiology
Member
Australian Epigenetics Alliance
Member
Australian Society for Parasitology
Member
Australian Society for Medical Research
Education
Education
Doctor of Philosophy
University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Science
University of Melbourne