Fried Research Group

The Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section focuses on malaria pathogenesis in pregnant women and young children and identifying targets of protective immunity.

Michal Fried, Ph.D.

Chief, Molecular Pathogenesis and Biomarkers Section

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Education:

Ph.D., Hebrew University, Israel

M.Sc., Ben-Gurion University, Israel

Dr. Fried earned her Ph.D. in molecular parasitology at Hebrew University (Israel) and M.Sc. in biochemistry at Ben-Gurion University (Israel). Her groundbreaking work elucidated the molecular basis of placental malaria and described the model of protective immunity that is the basis of current pregnancy malaria vaccine development. This model of pregnancy malaria is currently expanded to studies of severe malaria in children carried out in longitudinal studies in Africa.

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Sonal Kale, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Kumaun University, Nainital, India

MSc, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India

BSc, IEHE Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India

Languages Spoken: Hindi

During her Ph.D., Sonal measured naturally acquired antibodies against two malaria vaccine candidates, assessed genetic diversity in these vaccine candidates, as well as structural changes associated with mutations. Currently, Sonal is focused on studying malarial anemia pathogenesis in young children, conducting functional analysis of pathways associated with acute hemoglobin loss during malaria...

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Santosh A. Misal, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

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Education:

Ph.D., Biochemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

MSc, Biochemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

BSc, Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India

Languages Spoken: Hindi, Marathi

Santosh has a strong background using various proteomics tools including chemical labeling, crosslinking, and global proteomic analysis. As a staff scientist at MPBS, his research focuses on utilizing proteomics tools to identify epitopes of malarial proteins targeted by naturally acquired antibodies. He is also applying proteomics tools to study host responses to malaria infection.

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Delesa Damena Mulisa, Ph.D., DVM

Postdoctoral fellow

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Education:

Ph.D. in human genetics/bioinformatics from the University of Cape Town, South Africa

Doctor of veterinary medicine, Mekelle University, Ethiopia

MSc in Medical Microbiology, University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Languages Spoken: Afan Oromo, Amharic

During his Ph.D., Delesa utilized genome-wide association studies, phylogenetics and post-GWAS analyses to identify traits associated with severe malaria. His current research interests include identifying Plasmodium falciparum membrane protein complexes associated with protective immunity in children using proteomics tools. He is also investigating human candidate gene polymorphisms that are...

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Manisha Pritam, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Amity University, Lucknow, India

MSc, MGCGV Chitrakoot Satna M.P, India

BSc, DDU University Gorakhpur, India

Languages Spoken: Hindi

During her Ph.D., Manisha focused on using bioinformatic tools to design multi-epitope vaccines to different pathogens including Plasmodium, Leishmania, SARS-CoV-2, Rhizopus, and Enterococcus. As a postdoctoral fellow at MPBS, she is applying her experience to identify conserved PfEMP1 sequences across clinical parasite isolates that mediate parasite adhesion to endothelial receptors such as CD36...

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Former Research Group Members

Naissem Andemel (IRTA predoctoral fellowship), currently Kaiser/UCSF Internal Medicine/Preventive Medicine Residency Program and MPH

Patricia Gonzales, Ph.D. (Staff Scientist), currently RSO, Microbiology Review Branch, Division of Extramural Activities/NIAID/NIH

Brittany Pease, Ph.D. (Postdoc fellow) currently, Miltenyi Biotec, Technical Customer Trainer

Bethany Jenkins, Ph.D. (Postdoc fellow) currently Sanaria, staff scientist

Bartholomew Nyangahu, Ph.D. (Postdoc fellow) currently Egerton University Nakuru, Kenya, faculty position

Rachel Boone, BSc (Postbac fellow) currently University of Virginia BIMIS, Ph.D. Candidate

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