Johnathan Dalzell of Queen's University Belfast in the United Kingdom will improve food crop productivity particularly for small hold subsistence farmers by reducing the losses caused by pathogenic nematode worms, which are estimated to cost around $125 billion per year globally. These pathogenic worms absorb small proteins called neuropeptides from their external environment directly into their central nervous system, which can influence their movement and sensory behavior. They will exploit this process to destroy the worms. In Phase I, they identified two neuropeptide genes in the root knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne incognita, which is a serious pathogen of many crop types. They also exposed infectious stage nematodes to a selection of neuropeptides and found 11 that inhibited their movement towards plant roots, and 13 that protected a crop plant from infection. Finally, they established protocols to genetically modify crops to express and secrete the neuropeptides. In Phase II, they will develop knowledge and methods to produce transgenic plantain, which is a staple food crop of sub-Saharan Africa and a target of five major plant parasitic nematode species, to secrete multiple candidate neuropeptides, and test their resistance to infection.

Michael Klemba of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the U.S. will identify anti-malarial compounds from the Malaria Box that function as inhibitors of the cytostomal endocytic pathway used by the malaria parasite P. falciparum to internalize host erythrocyte proteins. Characterizing the molecular mechanisms of this process could lead to the discovery of new anti-malarial compounds.

Calman A. MacLennan of Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health in Italy will develop a technology platform for the production of highly immunogenic and affordable polysaccharide vaccines. The platform will produce bacterial polysaccharides linked to outermembrane GMMA particles, rather than to carrier proteins, that will act as adjuvants for an enhanced antibody response.

Eric Nuermberger and Justin Hanes of Johns Hopkins University in the U.S. propose to encapsulate vaccine components into nanoparticles that can slip through the mucus barriers lining the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts to deliver their payload to cells responsible for immune responses. This technology may result in more effective and better tolerated oral and inhaled tuberculosis vaccines.