Dr. Richard is an independent investigator in the Infectious and Immune Diseases Research Axis of the Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Laval University, and a professor at the department of Microbiology-Infectious Diseases and Immunology of Laval University’s Faculty of Medicine.

His work focuses on malaria, one of the world’s most common infectious diseases, with approximately 300 million cases each year and 500,000 deaths, and thus represents one of the most devastating global public health problems. The lack of an effective vaccine, the emergence of resistance to first-line drugs like chloroquine and antifolates, and recent reports of clinical cases of reduced susceptibility to artemisinine in Cambodia, combined with the small number of suitable new drugs against the malaria parasite, demonstrate the urgent need for the development and implementation of novel intervention strategies in the form of drugs, vector control measures, and an effective vaccine. Indeed, if the trend in malaria prevalence stays on its current upward course, the death rate could double in the next 20 years.

Understanding red blood cell invasion mechanisms by the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Invasion of a red blood cell by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites is an essential step in the malaria lifecycle and host response to merozoite antigens are an important component of human malarial immunity. Consequently, the molecular players involved in erythrocyte invasion are key targets for both therapeutic and vaccine-based strategies to block parasite development. Several of these invasion proteins are stored in the apical complex of the merozoite, a structure containing secretory organelles called dense granules, micronemes and rhoptries, and are released at different times during invasion. Because of its essential role, interfering with the generation of the apical complex represents a very attractive target for the design of a new kind of antimalarial. Our studies focus on trying to understand how the parasite directs proteins to the different structures of the apical complex. Understanding this complex process will likely provide a wealth of new targets for the development of strategies to block apical complex generation and to prevent malaria pathogenesis.

 

CHUL
2705, boulevard Laurier
R-0709
Québec, Québec
Canada G1V 4G2
+1 418-525-4444, extension 47975 / 48909+1 418-654-2715
dave.richard@crchudequebe...

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32 entries « ‹ 3 of 4 › »

Deponte M, Hoppe HC, Lee MC, Maier AG, Richard D, Rug M, Spielmann T, Przyborski JM

Wherever I may roam: protein and membrane trafficking in P. falciparum-infected red blood cells

Journal Article

Mol Biochem Parasitol, 186 (2), 2012.

Abstract | Links:

Andreani G, Lodge R, Richard D, Tremblay MJ

Mechanisms of interaction between protozoan parasites and HIV

Journal Article

Curr Opin HIV AIDS, 7 (3), 2012.

Abstract | Links:

Andreani G, Gagnon D, Lodge R, Tremblay MJ, Richard D

An in vitro co-infection model to study Plasmodium falciparum-HIV-1 interactions in human primary monocyte-derived immune cells

Journal Article

J Vis Exp, (66), 2012.

Abstract | Links:

Chen L, Lopaticki S, Riglar DT, Dekiwadia C, Uboldi AD, Tham WH, O'Neill MT, Richard D, Baum J, Ralph SA, Cowman AF

An EGF-like protein forms a complex with PfRh5 and is required for invasion of human erythrocytes by Plasmodium falciparum

Journal Article

PLoS Pathog, 7 (9), 2011.

Abstract | Links:

Riglar DT, Richard D, Wilson DW, Boyle MJ, Dekiwadia C, Turnbull L, Angrisano F, Marapana DS, Rogers KL, Whitchurch CB, Beeson JG, Cowman AF, Ralph SA, Baum J

Super-resolution dissection of coordinated events during malaria parasite invasion of the human erythrocyte

Journal Article

Cell Host Microbe, 9 (1), 2011.

Abstract | Links:

Richard D, Bartfai R, Volz J, Ralph SA, Muller S, Stunnenberg HG, Cowman AF

A genome-wide chromatin-associated nuclear peroxiredoxin from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Journal Article

J Biol Chem, 286 (13), 2011.

Abstract | Links:

O'Neill MT, Phuong T, Healer J, Richard D, Cowman AF

Gene deletion from Plasmodium falciparum using FLP and Cre recombinases: implications for applied site-specific recombination

Journal Article

Int J Parasitol, 41 (1), 2011.

Abstract | Links:

Tham WH, Wilson DW, Lopaticki S, Schmidt CQ, Tetteh-Quarcoo PB, Barlow PN, Richard D, Corbin JE, Beeson JG, Cowman AF

Complement receptor 1 is the host erythrocyte receptor for Plasmodium falciparum PfRh4 invasion ligand

Journal Article

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 107 (40), 2010.

Abstract | Links:

Richard D, MacRaild CA, Riglar DT, Chan JA, Foley M, Baum J, Ralph SA, Norton RS, Cowman AF

Interaction between Plasmodium falciparum apical membrane antigen 1 and the rhoptry neck protein complex defines a key step in the erythrocyte invasion process of malaria parasites

Journal Article

J Biol Chem, 285 (19), 2010.

Abstract | Links:

Guimond C, Trudel N, Brochu C, Marquis N, El Fadili A, Peytavi R, Briand G, Richard D, Messier N, Papadopoulou B, Corbeil J, Bergeron MG, Légaré D, Ouellette M

Modulation of gene expression in Leishmania drug resistant mutants as determined by targeted DNA microarrays

Journal Article

Nucleic Acids Res, 31 (20), 2003.

Abstract | Links:

32 entries « ‹ 3 of 4 › »
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Active projects

  • Dissecting mechanisms of cell division by the malaria parasite, from 2024-04-01 to 2029-03-31
  • Exploring the role of phosphoinositides in the trafficking of proteins to the apical complex in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, from 2024-03-01 to 2025-02-28
  • Financement d'achat de matériel scientifique pour le laboratoire sur la malaria , from 2023-08-10 to 2025-12-25
  • Investigating the interplay between Sickle Cell Anemia and Malaria at the epidemiological and molecular levels, from 2022-11-01 to 2026-10-31

Recently finished projects

  • Contribution du CRI pour appui au processus de concours interne, from 2023-04-24 to 2024-04-23
  • Dissecting mechanisms of cell division by the malaria parasite, from 2018-04-01 to 2024-03-31
  • Élucidation des mécanismes contrôlant le trafic des protéines vers le complexe apicale du parasite de la malaria Plasmodium falciparum, from 2021-07-01 to 2024-06-30
  • Exploring the role of phosphoinositides in the trafficking of proteins to the apical complex in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, from 2019-04-01 to 2024-03-31
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery