Nanyang Technology University

Academic Profile
Assoc Prof Zbynek Bozdech

Associate Professor 
Division of Molecular Genetics & Cell Biology 
School of Biological Sciences 
College of Science 



Email: ZBOZDECH@ntu.edu.sg
Phone: (+65)63162925 
Office: SBS-04n-20 
Education
  • PhD Mcgill University 1999
  • MS Charles University Prague 1989
Biography
Zbynek Bozdech holds currently a position as Assistant Professor at the School of Biological Sciences at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore leading a research team investigating molecular aspects of malaria parasite life cycle. In 1990, he has received his masters’ degree in Biochemistry from Charles University in Prague. From here he moved to McGill University in Montréal Canada to start his PhD studies involving protein trafficking in Plasmodium infected erythrocytes. In 1998 he moved to UCSF, where he worked in the laboratory of Joseph L. DeRisi exploring the transcriptome of Plasmodium falciparum using the fast emerging microarray technology. This work has lead to assembly of one of the first P. falciparum microarray and explorations of the global transcription pattern of the P. falciparum intraerythrocytic developmental cycle. In 2004, he moved to the newly forming School of Biological Sciences at NTU, to start his own research group. Presently Dr Bozdech is exploring several molecular aspects of translation and posttranslational regulation associated with the progression of the P. falciparum life cycle. In addition, using several technologies of high throughout genomics and proteomics his group is exploring molecular mechanisms associated with virulence and drug resistance in field strains of P. falciparum and P. vivax.
Research Interests
My research focuses on regulatory mechanisms that are associated with the progression of the complex life cycle of human malaria parasites, Plasmodium species. The research activities can be divided into three major objectives

(i) Characterizations of transcriptional regulation in Plasmodium. In these studies we conduct genome-wide transcriptional profiling of field isolates and chemical genomics analyses of the laboratory strains. The main goal of these studies is to identify transcriptional regulation that controls parasites virulence as well as responses to drug therapies.

(ii) Quantitative proteomics of the Plasmodium intraerythrocytic developmental cycle. The main objective these studies is to characterize protein abundance profiles as well as the pattern of posttranslational modification associated with the progression of the Plasmodium erythrocytic development. These studies are conducted in the proteome-wide manner using the two dimensional gel electrophoresis approaches. The main objective is to identify regulatory elements of Plasmodium translational machinery as new therapeutic targets for human malaria.

(iii) Epigenetic regulation of transcriptional control in Plasmodium parasites. Using a chemical genetic approach we characterize a role of Histone Deacetylases (HDAC) in the transcriptional regulation of the Plasmodium life cycle. Using these approaches we attempt to analyze the histone code in Plasmodium and its role in parasite growth and development. Simultaneously we evaluate a potential of HDAC inhibitors as new malaria chemotherapeutics.
Research Grant
  • A*Exploit Technologies - Commercialisation of Technology Fund (2012-)
  • A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (2006-)
  • A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (2007-)
  • A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (2010-)
  • Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (2012-)
  • National Medical Research Council (2011-)
  • National Medical Research Council (2012-)
  • Supplementary Equipment Purchase (2006-) [by Ministry of Education (MOE)]
Current Projects
  • Comparative transcription analysis to identify novel targets for malaria intervention
  • Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in human malaria parasites Plasmodium falciparum : new target for malaria drug development
  • Exploration of nuclear proteome for chromatin remodelling proteins in the human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Functional genomic analyses of human malaria parasite resistance to artemisinin
  • Generation of Novel Malaria-associated Antigens and Antibodies for Rapid Diagnotics Test Kit Development
  • Genomic analysis of malaria host parasite interactions
  • Identifications and characterizations of molecular factors associated with transcriptional regulation in human malaria parasites, Plasmodium falciparum
  • Quantitative Proteomics of the Intraerythrocytic Developmental Cycle of the Human Malaria Parasites Plasmodium falciparum
  • Single cell genomics, a new window into malaria parasite physiology and pathogenicity
Selected Publications
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