Wanlapa Roobsoong

<< Go back to Principal Investigators page

Parasite Biology and Immunology section leader | Parasite Biology

Ph.D. Medical Technology, Mahidol University
Dr. Wanlapa Roobsoong leads groundbreaking research on the molecular mechanisms underlying gametocytogenesis and hypnozoite formation in Plasmodium vivax. Her work focuses on addressing critical challenges in malaria control, such as parasite dormancy, relapse, and transmission. Dr. Roobsoong integrates cutting-edge technologies into her research, including humanized mouse models, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and organ-on-chip systems representing liver, bone marrow, and spleen, to unravel the complexities of P. vivax biology and accelerate the discovery of new antimalarial drugs and vaccines.

Dr. Roobsoong has extensive experience in the radical cure treatment of P. vivax, focusing on improving the efficacy and safety of therapeutic interventions. She has led initiatives such as mass primaquine preventive treatment programs at the population level, providing critical insights into the practical implementation of radical cure strategies. Her current work includes clinical studies on dose optimization of tafenoquine, aiming to refine treatment regimens and address challenges associated with relapsing infections. While G6PD deficiency remains an area of interest, it serves as a supporting aspect of her broader focus on P. vivax radical cure treatments. Through her innovative research and collaborative approach, Dr. Roobsoong continues to shape the global understanding of P. vivax and contribute to the Mahidol Vivax Research Unit's mission of eliminating malaria and improving global health.

Email: wanlapa.ros@mahidol.edu

Publications | ResearchGate | LinkedIn | ORCID

Zheng W, Cheng S, Liu F, Yu X, Zhao Y, Yang F, et al. Immunogenicity and transmission-blocking potential of quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase in Plasmodium vivax. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024;14:1451063.

Zhang B, Feng H, Zhao Y, Zhang D, Yu X, Li Y, et al. Evaluation of transmission-blocking potential of PvPSOP25 using transgenic murine malaria parasite and clinical isolates. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2024;18(6):e0012231.

Winnicki AC, King CL, Bosch J, Malachin AN, Carias LL, Skomorovska-Prokvolit Y, et al. Potent AMA1-specific human monoclonal antibody against P. vivax Pre-erythrocytic and Blood Stages. bioRxiv. 2024.

Winnicki AC, Dietrich MH, Yeoh LM, Carias LL, Roobsoong W, Drago CL, et al. Potent AMA1-specific human monoclonal antibody against Plasmodium vivax Pre-erythrocytic and Blood Stages. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):10556.

Thongpoon S, Roobsoong W, Nguitragool W, Chotirat S, Tsuboi T, Takashima E, et al. Naturally Acquired Transmission-Blocking Immunity Against Different Strains of Plasmodium vivax in a Malaria-Endemic Area in Thailand. J Infect Dis. 2024;229(2):567-75.

Thongbamrer C, Kunkeaw N, Nguitragool W, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Opanasopit P, et al. Optimizing Transfection Efficiency of Spermine Polar Head Cholesterol-Based Cationic Lipids with Amino Acid Linker. Chembiochem. 2024;25(23):e202400490.

Tapaopong P, Chainarin S, Mala A, Rannarong A, Kangkasikorn N, Kusolsuk T, et al. Declining Genetic Polymorphisms of the C-terminus Merozoite Surface Protein-1 Amidst Increased Plasmodium knowlesi Transmission in Thailand. bioRxiv. 2024.

Tapaopong P, Chainarin S, Mala A, Rannarong A, Kangkasikorn N, Kusolsuk T, et al. Declining genetic polymorphism of the C-terminus Merozoite Surface Protein-1 amidst increased Plasmodium knowlesi transmission in Thailand. Malar J. 2024;23(1):342.

Kaewkungwal J, Roobsoong W, Lawpoolsri S, Nguitragool W, Thammapalo S, Prikchoo P, et al. Effectiveness, Safety, and Acceptability of Primaquine Mass Drug Administration in Low-Endemicity Areas in Southern Thailand: Proof-of-Concept Study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024;10:e51993.

Amanzougaghene N, Tajeri S, Franetich JF, Ashraf K, Soulard V, Bigeard P, et al. Azithromycin disrupts apicoplast biogenesis in replicating and dormant liver stages of the relapsing malaria parasites Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium cynomolgi. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2024;63(5):107112.

Zanghi G, Patel H, Camargo N, Smith JL, Bae Y, Flannery EL, et al. Global gene expression of human malaria parasite liver stages throughout intrahepatocytic development. bioRxiv. 2023.

Thongbamrer C, Teerakantrakorn P, Nongpong U, Apiratikul N, Roobsoong W, Kunkeaw N, et al. In vitro transfection efficiencies of T-shaped spermine-based cationic lipids with identical and nonidentical tails under high serum conditions. Org Biomol Chem. 2023;21(9):1967-79.

Surit T, Sripoorote P, Kumpitak C, Suansomjit C, Maneechai N, Cui L, et al. Transmission efficiency of Plasmodium vivax at low parasitaemia. Malar J. 2023;22(1):22.

Samayoa-Reyes G, Flaherty SM, Wickham KS, Viera-Morilla S, Strauch PM, Roth A, et al. Development of an ectopic huLiver model for Plasmodium liver stage infection. PLoS One. 2023;18(3):e0279144.

Saita S, Roobsoong W, Khammaneechan P, Sukchan P, Lawpoolsri S, Sattabongkot J, et al. Community acceptability, participation, and adherence to mass drug administration with primaquine for Plasmodium vivax elimination in Southern Thailand: a mixed methods approach. Malar J. 2023;22(1):17.

Rodriguez-Hernandez D, Vijayan K, Zigweid R, Fenwick MK, Sankaran B, Roobsoong W, et al. Identification of potent and selective N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors of Plasmodium vivax liver stage hypnozoites and schizonts. Nat Commun. 2023;14(1):5408.

Glennon EK, Wei L, Roobsoong W, Primavera VI, Tongogara T, Yee CB, et al. Host kinase regulation of Plasmodium vivax dormant and replicating liver stages. bioRxiv. 2023.

Aung TH, Suansomjit C, Tun ZM, Hlaing TM, Kaewkungwal J, Cui L, et al. Prevalence of G6PD deficiency and diagnostic accuracy of a G6PD point-of-care test among a population at risk of malaria in Myanmar. Malar J. 2023;22(1):143.

Assawapanumat W, Roobsoong W, Chotivanich K, Sattabongkot J, Kampaengtip A, Sungkarat W, et al. In Vitro Tracking of Sporozoites via Fluorescence Imaging and MRI Using Multifunctional Micelles. ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2023;6(12):5324-32.

Thongbamrer C, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Opanasopit P, Yingyongnarongkul BE. Serum Compatible Spermine-Based Cationic Lipids with Nonidentical Hydrocarbon Tails Mediate High Transfection Efficiency. Chembiochem. 2022;23(6):e202100672.

Sattabongkot J, Cui L, Bantuchai S, Chotirat S, Kaewkungwal J, Khamsiriwatchara A, et al. Malaria Research for Tailored Control and Elimination Strategies in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022;107(4_Suppl):152-9.

Roobsoong W, Yadava A, Draper SJ, Minassian AM, Sattabongkot J. The challenges of Plasmodium vivax human malaria infection models for vaccine development. Front Immunol. 2022;13:1006954.

Mancio-Silva L, Gural N, Real E, Wadsworth MH, 2nd, Butty VL, March S, et al. A single-cell liver atlas of Plasmodium vivax infection. Cell Host Microbe. 2022;30(7):1048-60 e5.

Gualdron-Lopez M, Diaz-Varela M, Zanghi G, Aparici-Herraiz I, Steel RWJ, Schafer C, et al. Mass Spectrometry Identification of Biomarkers in Extracellular Vesicles From Plasmodium vivax Liver Hypnozoite Infections. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2022;21(10):100406.

Flannery EL, Kangwanrangsan N, Chuenchob V, Roobsoong W, Fishbaugher M, Zhou K, et al. Plasmodium vivax latent liver infection is characterized by persistent hypnozoites, hypnozoite-derived schizonts, and time-dependent efficacy of primaquine. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2022;26:427-40.

Cui L, Sattabongkot J, Aung PL, Brashear A, Cao Y, Kaewkungwal J, et al. Multidisciplinary Investigations of Sustained Malaria Transmission in the Greater Mekong Subregion. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2022;107(4_Suppl):138-51.

Chainarin S, Jaihan U, Tapaopong P, Kongngen P, Kunkeaw N, Cui L, et al. Overexpression of hepatocyte EphA2 enhances liver-stage infection by Plasmodium vivax. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):21542.

Aparici Herraiz I, Caires HR, Castillo-Fernandez O, Sima N, Mendez-Mora L, Risueno RM, et al. Advancing Key Gaps in the Knowledge of Plasmodium vivax Cryptic Infections Using Humanized Mouse Models and Organs-on-Chips. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:920204.

Zhang Y, Liu F, Zhao Y, Yang F, Bai J, Jia X, et al. Evaluation of two Plasmodium vivax sexual stage antigens as transmission-blocking vaccine candidates. Parasit Vectors. 2021;14(1):407.

Schafer C, Dambrauskas N, Reynolds LM, Trakhimets O, Raappana A, Flannery EL, et al. Partial protection against P. vivax infection diminishes hypnozoite burden and blood-stage relapses. Cell Host Microbe. 2021;29(5):752-6 e4.

Minassian AM, Themistocleous Y, Silk SE, Barrett JR, Kemp A, Quinkert D, et al. Controlled human malaria infection with a clone of Plasmodium vivax with high-quality genome assembly. JCI Insight. 2021;6(23).

Chandna A, Chew R, Shwe Nwe Htun N, Peto TJ, Zhang M, Liverani M, et al. Defining the burden of febrile illness in rural South and Southeast Asia: an open letter to announce the launch of the Rural Febrile Illness project. Wellcome Open Res. 2021;6:64.

Toda H, Diaz-Varela M, Segui-Barber J, Roobsoong W, Baro B, Garcia-Silva S, et al. Plasma-derived extracellular vesicles from Plasmodium vivax patients signal spleen fibroblasts via NF-kB facilitating parasite cytoadherence. Nat Commun. 2020;11(1):2761.

Schafer C, Roobsoong W, Kangwanrangsan N, Bardelli M, Rawlinson TA, Dambrauskas N, et al. A Humanized Mouse Model for Plasmodium vivax to Test Interventions that Block Liver Stage to Blood Stage Transition and Blood Stage Infection. iScience. 2020;23(8):101381.

Radchatawedchakoon W, Thongbamrer C, Konbamrung W, Khattawee P, Sakee U, Roobsoong W, et al. The effect of polar headgroups and spacer length on the DNA transfection of cholesterol-based cationic lipids. RSC Med Chem. 2020;11(2):212-24.

Qiu Y, Zhao Y, Liu F, Ye B, Zhao Z, Thongpoon S, et al. Evaluation of Plasmodium vivax HAP2 as a transmission-blocking vaccine candidate. Vaccine. 2020;38(13):2841-8.

Chim-Ong A, Surit T, Chainarin S, Roobsoong W, Sattabongkot J, Cui L, et al. The Blood Stage Antigen RBP2-P1 of Plasmodium vivax Binds Reticulocytes and Is a Target of Naturally Acquired Immunity. Infect Immun. 2020;88(4).