Dr. Wang Nguitragool Lecturer

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wang.ngu@mahidol.edu
+66 (0) 2306 9100, Ext 2033

Background

As a member of the Malaria group of the Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics, Dr. Wang Nguitragool is leading a team of researchers and students to investigate Plasmodium vivax biology and transmission. Using tools in genetic engineering and protein biochemistry, Dr. Nguitragool’s laboratory team focuses its research effort to better understand how P. vivax invades reticulocytes and how to block this essential step in the parasite life cycle. In addition, Dr. Nguitragool is also leading molecular epidemiological projects to track the current trend of malaria in western Thailand.

Dr. Nguitragool is a current recipient of a Wellcome Trust Intermediate Fellowship.

He works closely with colleagues in Mahidol Vivax Research Unit (MVRU), Walter and Eliza Hall Research Institute (WEHI), and Pasteur Institute.

Affiliations

Department of Molecular Tropical Medicine and Genetics

Research

Dr. Wang Nguitragool joined the Faculty 2012 after his post-doctoral training with Sanjay Desai at the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, NIAID. His previous work (Nguitragool et al, Cell, 2011) established a landmark in the understanding of how malaria parasites acquire nutrients for intraerythrocytic development. Since his return to Thailand, Dr. Nguitragool has taken the opportunities to study P. vivax (currently only available through malaria patients) at the Faculty of Tropical Medicine and directed his research effort to understand the biology of this parasite within the mammalian host as well as how this parasite transmits from man to mosquitos. In addition to his laboratory research on P. vivax biology, Dr. Nguitragool was a member of the TransEpi Consortium (funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) and has since been taken leading roles in collaborative projects related to malaria parasite detection and epidemiology in Thailand.

Qualifications

2012 Postdoctoral Training National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, USA
2008 PhD, Biophysics and Structural Biology Brandeis University, USA
2002 ScB, Biophysics Brown University, USA

Research Areas

  • Biology of P. vivax
  • Malaria epidemiology and transmission

Publications

The full list of Dr. Nguitragool can be found here.

Selected Publications

Structurally conserved erythrocyte-binding domain in Plasmodium provides a versatile scaffold for alternate receptor engagement.
Gruszczyk J, Lim NT, Arnott A, He WQ, Nguitragool W, Roobsoong W, Mok YF, Murphy JM, Smith KR, Lee S, Bahlo M, Mueller I, Barry AE, Tham WH.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Jan 12;113(2):E191-200.
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1516512113.

Gene Models, Expression Repertoire, and Immune Response of Plasmodium vivax Reticulocyte Binding Proteins.
Hietanen J, Chim-Ong A, Chiramanewong T, Gruszczyk J, Roobsoong W, Tham WH, Sattabongkot J, Nguitragool W.
Infect Immun. 2015 Dec 28;84(3):677-85.
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.01117-15.

Blood-Stage Parasitaemia and Age Determine Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax Gametocytaemia in Papua New Guinea.
Koepfli C, Robinson LJ, Rarau P, Salib M, Sambale N, Wampfler R, Betuela I, Nuitragool W, Barry AE, Siba P, Felger I, Mueller I.
PLoS One. 2015 May 21;10(5):e0126747
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126747

Proteolysis at a specific extracellular residue implicates integral membrane CLAG3 in malaria parasite nutrient channels
Nguitragool W, Rayavara K, Desai SA
PLoS One. 2014 Apr 3;9(4):e93759
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093759

Solute Restriction Reveals an Essential Role for clag3-Associated Channels in Malaria Parasite Nutrient Acquisition
Pillai AD, Nguitragool W, Lyko B, Dolinta K, Butler MM, Nguyen ST, Peet NP, Bowlin TL, Desai SA.
Mol Pharmacol. 2012 Dec; 82(6): 1104–1114
DOI: 10.1124/mol.112.081224

A high-throughput method to detect Plasmodium falciparum clones in limiting dilution microplates
Lyko B, Hammershaimb EA, Nguitragool W, Wellems TE, Desai SA.
Malar J. 2012; 11: 124
DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-124

Malaria parasite clag3 genes determine channel-mediated nutrient uptake by infected red blood cells.
Nguitragool W, Bokhari A, Pillai A, Rayavara K, Sharma, P, Turpin B, Aravind L, Desai S.
Cell. 2011 May 27;145(5):665-77
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.05.002