DrDina Vlachou

I am a molecular biologist with specialized expertise in disease vector and parasite genetics, bolstered by a robust background in functional genomics. Prior to my tenure at Imperial, I undertook postdoctoral training in the field of vector and parasite research at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH) in Crete, Greece, and Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) in Leiden, The Netherlands. I then joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, as a Marie Curie Independent Career Development Fellow.

My research centers on unraveling the complexities of malaria transmission biology. Malaria, caused by the Plasmodium protozoan parasite, is transmitted from human to human via Anopheles mosquitoes. Within the mosquito vector, malaria parasites face major challenges, particularly as they traverse the mosquito midgut facing robust mosquito immune responses. Our investigations have revealed intricate host-parasite interactions and identified key roles of specific parasite proteins in conferring resistance against these immune responses.

Research Focus: 

 1. Mechanisms of malaria parasite sexual and sporogonic development. Unraveling the intricate mechanisms that underpin parasite development within the mosquito and functionally characterizing the key regulators of these developmental processes.

2. Plasmodium immune evasion mechanisms of the mosquito complement: Molecular interplay between the malaria parasite and mosquito host.

We investigate the reciprocal interactions between Plasmodium and its mosquito host, focusing on parasite molecules that mediate immune evasion and mosquito complement-like responses that restrict infection. By characterizing both parasite strategies and mosquito defenses, we aim to uncover mechanisms shaping transmission success and identify potential targets for novel malaria interventions.

3. Malaria transmission blocking interventions. Identifying novel targets within both the parasite and mosquito in order to advance strategies for blocking malaria transmission. My current focus is on generating mosquitoes capable of expressing anti-Plasmodial effectors. These engineered effectors will then be disseminated in mosquito populations using gene drive mechanisms.

On going research projects:

1. Engineering human complement to target P. falciparum fertilisation and generate malaria-immune mosquitoes
This project develops a strategy to redirect the human complement cascade onto P. falciparum gametes in the mosquito midgut, disrupting fertilisation and blocking malaria transmission. It focuses on bispecific nanobodies that target parasite fertilisation proteins while recruiting C1q, triggering complement activation and parasite elimination. The project investigates complement recruitment and membrane attack complex formation, towards the development of engineered malaria-immune Anopheles mosquitoes.
Techniques and experimental approaches: bispecific nanobody engineering; molecular cloning and recombinant protein production; ELISA; complement recruitment and activation assays; immunofluorescence (IFA); Western blotting; Expansion Microscopy (ExM); parasite fertilisation and transmission-blocking assays; mosquito infections; engineering malaria-immune mosquitoes.

2. Engineering nanobody-mediated neutralisation of P. falciparum fertilisation and midgut invasion in malaria-immune mosquitoes

This project develops malaria-immune Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes expressing nanobodies that directly neutralise two critical bottlenecks in P. falciparum transmission: gamete fertilisation and ookinete midgut invasion. Nanobodies target the essential Pfs230–Pfs48/45 fertilisation complex and PIMMS43, an ookinete surface protein involved in mosquito immune evasion. Expressed individually or in combination in the mosquito midgut, these nanobodies are evaluated for their ability to inhibit fertilisation, oocyst development and sporozoite formation. The project contributes to the development of gene-drive-compatible malaria-immune mosquitoes for population-level transmission control.

Techniques and experimental approaches: transgenic mosquito genetics and molecular genotyping; nanobody expression and characterisation; mosquito crossing; P. falciparum mosquito infections; fertilisation assays; immunofluorescence; Expansion Microscopy (ExM); oocyst and sporozoite quantification; transmission-blocking assays; gene drive genetics

3. Decoding the Cell Biology of Plasmodium in the Mosquito: From Ookinete Development and Epithelial Interactions to Organelle Dynamics and Sporogony
Successful malaria transmission depends on a series of coordinated developmental transitions and cellular interactions between Plasmodium parasites and their mosquito vectors. Building on our group's longstanding research into parasite development and Plasmodium–mosquito interactions, this project investigates the cellular mechanisms governing parasite development, survival and differentiation within the mosquito, from gametocyte-to-ookinete development and midgut epithelial invasion to oocyst maturation and sporozoite formation.
A major focus is the cellular interplay between invading ookinetes and the mosquito midgut epithelium, including epithelial apoptosis, parasite-associated DNA fragmentation, mosquito cellular responses and mechanisms influencing parasite survival or elimination during invasion. In parallel, we investigate the organisation, dynamics and function of specialised parasite organelles during oocyst development, particularly the interplay between crystalloids and Aquaporin 2 (AQP2)-positive vesicles. Our work has revealed that AQP2 localises to a specialised vesicular compartment associated with the crystalloid and is critical for efficient sporozoite formation. By integrating parasite genetics, advanced imaging and functional analyses, we aim to uncover fundamental cell-biological mechanisms underlying parasite development, interactions with the mosquito host and successful malaria transmission.
Techniques and experimental approaches: Parasite genome editing; transgenic parasite characterisation; protein tagging and subcellular localisation; immunofluorescence (IFA); apoptosis and DNA-fragmentation assays; confocal and high-resolution microscopy; Expansion Microscopy (ExM); molecular and biochemical analyses; mosquito infections; ookinete development and invasion assays; oocyst development and sporulation assays; sporozoite quantification; transmission phenotyping.

4. Mapping Plasmodium falciparum resistance to transmission-blocking nanobodies
This project develops a predictive framework to identify and functionally validate parasite escape from transmission-blocking nanobodies before resistance emerges. Focusing on the Pfs230–Pfs48/45 fertilisation complex, population genomics, epitope mapping and structural modelling will identify naturally occurring variants with the potential to disrupt nanobody recognition. Selected variants will be tested using recombinant protein-binding assays and humanised P. berghei parasites expressing P. falciparum target domains, linking molecular escape directly to transmission phenotypes in the mosquito. This genomic-to-functional approach will define resistance risks and inform the design of more resistance-resilient malaria-immune mosquitoes.
Techniques and experimental approaches: population genomics and sequence analysis; epitope and haplotype mapping; protein structure modelling; molecular cloning and recombinant protein production; ELISA and nanobody-binding assays; humanised P. berghei parasite genetics and molecular characterisation; immunofluorescence (IFA); parasite fertilisation and ookinete assays; mosquito infections; oocyst and sporozoite phenotyping; transmission-blocking assays; and malaria-immune mosquito genetics.

Selected recent publications

Bailey, A.J., Vlachou, D*., & Christophides, G.K*. (2026). Oocyst: knowns and unknowns about the lengthiest life stage of the malaria parasite. Royal Society Open Biology, 16(4), 260009. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.260009

*Equal senior authors

Carlos, B.C., Voges, K., Affonso, P.H.A., Jaye, A., Rios, C.T., Tinoco-Nunes, B., Alonso, D.P., MacCallum, R.M., Moreno, M., Vlachou, D*., Souza-Neto, J.A*., & Christophides, G.K*. (2025). Metabolic reprogramming and gut microbiota ecology drive divergent Plasmodium vivax infection outcomes in Anopheles darlingi. PLOS Pathogens, in press. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.13.670040

*Equal senior and corresponding authors

Habtewold, T., Lwetoijera, et al. (2025). Gene-drive-capable mosquitoes suppress patient-derived malaria in Tanzania. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09685-6

Ukegbu, C.V., Mohamed, M., Hoermann, A., Qin, Y., Kweyamba, P.A., Lwetoijera, D.W., Windbichler, N., Moore, S., Christophides, G.K., & Vlachou, D. (2025). Nanobody-mediated targeting of Plasmodium falciparum PfPIMMS43 can block malaria transmission in mosquitoes. Communications Biology, 8, 683. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08033-8

Bailey, A.J., Ukegbu, C.V., Giorgalli, M., Besson, T.R.B., Christophides, G.K., & Vlachou, D. (2023). Intracellular Plasmodium aquaporin 2 is required for sporozoite production in the mosquito vector and malaria transmission. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 120(44), e2304339120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2304339120

Ukegbu, C.V., Gomes, A.R., Giorgalli, M., Campos, M., Bailey, A.J., Besson, T.R.B., Billker, O., Vlachou, D.*, & Christophides, G.K.* (2023). Identification of genes required for Plasmodium gametocyte-to-sporozoite development in the mosquito vector. Cell Host & Microbe, 31(11), 1539–1551.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2023.08.010

*Equal senior and corresponding authors

Ukegbu, C.V., Christophides, G.K., & Vlachou, D. (2021). Identification of three novel Plasmodium factors involved in ookinete to oocyst developmental transition. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 15 March 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.641457

Ukegbu, C.V., Giorgalli, M., Tapanelli, S., Rona, L.D.P., Jaye, A., Wyer, C., Angrisano, F., Blagborough, A.M., Christophides, G.K., & Vlachou, D. (2020). Plasmodium PIMMS43 is required for ookinete evasion of the mosquito complement-like response and sporogonic development in the oocyst. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 117(13), 7363–7373. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1919709117

 Verkuijl, S.A.N., Del Corsano, G., Capriotti, P., Yen, P.S., Inghilterra, M.G., Selvaraj, P., Hoermann, A., Martinez-Sanchez, A., Ukegbu, C.V., Kebede, T.M., Vlachou, D., Christophides, G.K., & Windbichler, N. (2025). A suppression-modification gene drive for malaria control targeting the ultra-conserved RNA gene mir-184. Nature Communications, 16(1), 3923. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58954-5

Press Releases & Media Coverage

·       Tracking malaria parasite growth in mosquitoes may lead to new preventatives. (2021). Imperial College London. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/247595/tracking-malaria-parasite-growth-mosquitoes-lead/?fbclid=IwAR2UGkQkQDPrDWQab8M6gVBGgHVAIjrLLYCSV6-T1yoeI69BTrQjb_jVlLk

·       Malaria parasite gene could be effective drug target to block transmission. (2023). Imperial College London. https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/248974/malaria-parasite-gene-could-effective-drug/

Researchers shed new light on how malaria parasites evade mosquitos’ defences. (2020). Imperial College London.