Terry Spithill

Biography

 After completing a PhD (Biochemistry) at Monash University in 1977, I undertook postdoctoral studies at Mahidol University (Thailand), Colorado State University and UCLA (1977-1981). Since 1981, I have held positions as a Research Scientist at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville; Head of Department at Victorian Institute of Animal Science, Attwood; Associate Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Monash University, Clayton; Director of the Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Canada where I held a prestigious Canada Research Chair in Immunoparasitology (2002-7). In 2007, I returned to Australia as a Strategic Research Professor at Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga. In December 2010 I joined La Trobe University where I continue my work using molecular approaches to develop vaccines or drugs to control parasitic diseases. My recent research has focused on the parasites Fasciola (liver fluke) and Plasmodium (malaria), studying areas such as host immune responses to parasites, parasite immune evasion mechanisms, drug resistance, parasite proteomics and vaccine and drug target discovery. This involves characterising parasite molecules that determine virulence and pathogenesis using genomic and proteomic approaches, with the long term aim of developing vaccines based on these molecules. My research has a deliberate international outlook with current collaborations in China, Thailand, UK and Australia.

Research Interest

  Parasitology - Chemically-attenuated malaria vaccines - Identify and characterize surface tegument proteins expressed in F hepatica - Population genetics of triclabendazole resistance in liver fluke parasites - Recombinant vaccines to control liver fluke infections