Position

Professor of Biochemistry and Associate Dean Research

Faculty of Science Technology and Engineering
La Trobe University,
VIC 3086 AUSTRALIA

Tel: 61-3-9479 1375
Fax: 61-3-9479 2467
Email: L.Tilley@latrobe.edu.au
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/biochemistry/lab/tilley/index.htm

Research interests

Our laboratory employs a range of quantitative imaging techniques to study molecular aspects of host-parasite interactions and to probe the functions of a range of parasite proteins. The major areas of the research are: 1. Studies of protein trafficking and cellular architecture in malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes; and 2. Development of novel antimalarial drugs.

Qualifications

BSc (Hons.) University of Melbourne 1978
PhD (Biochemistry) University of Sydney 1984

Ten Most Significant Publications

1. Tilley, L., Thulborn, K.R. and Sawyer, W.H. (1979) An assessment of the fluidity gradient of the lipid bilayer as determined by a set of n-(9-anthroyloxy) fatty acids (n:2,6,9,12,16). Journal of Biological Chemistry, 254, 2592-2594.

2. Tilley, L., Cribier, S., Roelofsen, B., Op den Kamp, J.A.F. and van Deenen, L.M.M. (1986) ATP-dependent translocation of amino phospholipids across the human erythrocyte membrane. FEBS Letters, 194, 21-27.

3. Knowles, D.W., Tilley, L., Mohandas, N. and Chasis, J.A. (1997) Erythrocyte membrane vesiculation: Model for the molecular mechanism of protein sorting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 94, 12969-12974 (SCI: 10.452)

4. Wickham, M., Rug, M., Klonis, N., Tilley, L., Cowman, A.F. (2001) Trafficking and assembly of the cytoadherence complex in P. falciparum-infected human erythrocytes. EMBO Journal 20: 5636-5649

5. Campanale, N., Nickel, C., Daubenberger, C., Wehlan, D., Gorman, J., Klonis, N., Becker, K. and Tilley, L. (2003) Identification and characterisation of heme-interacting proteins of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Journal of Biological Chemistry 278: 27354-27361.

6. Kriek, N., Tilley, L., Horrocks, P., Pinches, R., Elford, B. Fergusen, D.J.P., Lingelbach, K. and Newbold, C. (2003) Characterization of the pathway for transport of the cytoadherence-mediating protein, PfEMP1, to the host cell surface in malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes. Molecular Microbiology 50(4): 1215-1227.

7. Knuepfer, E., Rug, M., Klonis, N., Tilley, L. and Cowman, A.F. (2005) Trafficking of the major virulence factor to the surface of transfected P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Blood 105(10):4078-87.

8. Spycher, C., Rug, M., Klonis, N., Cowman, A.F., Beck, H.-P. and Tilley, L. (2006) Genesis of and trafficking to the Maurer's cleft secretory compartment of malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes. Molecular and Cellular Biology 6(11):4074-85.

9. Hanssen, E., Sougrat, R., Frankland, S., Deed, S., Klonis, N., Lippincott-Schwartz, J. and Tilley, L. (2008) Electron tomography of the Maurer's cleft organelles of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes reveals novel structural features. Molecular Microbiology 67 (4), 703-718

10. Maier, A.G., Cooke, B.M., Cowman, A.C. and Tilley, L. (2008) Interactions of malaria parasite proteins with red blood cells. Nature Reviews Microbiology (in press)

Currently Held Grants

Jan 2005-Dec 2009: Australian Research Council Network for Parasitology #RN0460368. Bid headed by A/Prof Nick Smith.

Jan 2005-Dec 2009: Australian Research Council Network for Fluorescence Applications in Biotechnology and Life Sciences # RN0460002. Bid headed by A/Prof Ewa Goldys.

2006-2010: ARC Centre of Excellence for Coherent X-Ray Science. Prof K. Nugent, Director, Prof L. Tilley, Deputy Director.

2009 LE0989390 ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities. Prof KA Nugent; A/Prof AG Peele; A/Prof PC Dastoor; A/Prof WM Skinner; Dr WP Gates; A/Prof AF Masters; Prof L Tilley; Dr PR Heraud; Prof PA Lay; Dr BC Cowie; Dr DJ Paterson. Versatile Scanning X-ray Microscopy Facility at the Australian Synchrotron.

2009 LE0989920 ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities. A/Prof CB Whitchurch; Prof EJ Harry; A/Prof MR Phillips; A/Prof MJ Ford; Prof JP Dalton; A/Prof PJ Ralph; Dr MA Doblin; A/Prof NC Smith; Dr N Firth; Prof J Trewhella; A/Prof GC Cox; A/Prof FC Braet; A/Prof DA Carter; Dr TP Newsome; Prof NE Dixon; Prof MJ Walker; Dr JM Mackenzie; Dr E Hanssen; Prof L Tilley; A/Prof J Mak; Dr RM Murphy; Dr MT Ryan; Prof DG Stephenson; Prof DL Vaux; A/Prof C Tang; Prof PR Fisher; Dr AR Gendall; A/Prof SG Crewther; A/Prof TA Smith; Prof RM Robins Browne; Dr EL Hartland. Microbial and Cellular Imaging and Analysis Facility.

2007-2009: National Health and Medical Research Council. Trafficking of the cytoadherence-mediating protein to the host cell surface in malaria parasite-infected erythrocytes. Prof. L. Tilley.

2009-2013: National Health and Medical Research Council. Novel fluorescent probes of cellular microenvironments to study the mechanism of action of endoperoxide antimalarials. Prof. L. Tilley and Dr N. Klonis.