Theoretical physics of malaria invasion of red blood cells

The malaria parasite invades red blood cells in the host and changes the shape and mechanics of these cells. The parasite reproduces inside the red blood cell until the host cell bursts releasing the parasites to infect more host cells. This aim of this theoretical project is to calculate how the malaria parasite enters the host cell and changes the shape and mechanics of these red blood cells. It is known that the parasite uses actin and myosin to push itself into the host cell. These are the same molecular ingredients used for classic cell motility but the structure of the actin and myosin machinery is known to be quite different. The details of how this machinery works are not yet well understood and theoretical modelling will help in this goal. Red blood cells have a characteristic biconcave disk (doughnut) shape. The inner surface of their membrane is covered with a network of a cytoskeleton protein called spectrin which in turn binds to the actin cytoskeleton. These cytoskeleton filaments maintain the red blood cell’s shape and mechanical stability. We will theoretically model this cytoskeleton and calculate the forces involved when malaria parasite alters the red blood cell shape and mechanics. To do this we will use tools from statistical mechanics, classical elasticity theory and active gel theory. This project will be conducted in collaboration with partners in South Africa and therefore may involve travel there.