Sung-Jae Cha, PhD
Education
- BS, Agricultural Biology, Korea University
- MS, Entomology, Korea University
- PhD, Genetics, University of Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins University,
- Postdoctoral training, Molecular Parasitology, Johns Hopkins University,
- Research Associate, Molecular Parasitology
Research Interest
Dr. Cha’s lab investigates vector-borne diseases using molecular biology, immunology, and genetic approaches. The current research focuses on the molecular identification of ligand-receptor interaction for the malaria parasite’s life cycle in its mammalian host and mosquito vector. Dr. Cha’s lab is also investigating other eukaryotic parasites inducing Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. Dr. Cha’s lab is interested in the translational application of new findings, especially in the development of a more effective malaria vaccine and the prognostic biomarker identification for reducing cerebral malaria-induced mortality in children.
Selected Publications
- de Paula JIO, Lopes-Torres EJ, Jacobs-Lorena M., Paes MC, Cha SJ. 2022. The screen of a phage display library identifies a peptide that binds to the surface of Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and impairs their infection of mammalian cells. Front. Microbiol. 13: 864788. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb. 2022.864788.
- Cha SJ, Yu X, Gregory BD, Ishino T, Robert OO,John CC, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2022. Identification of key determinants of cerebral malaria development and inhibition pathways. mBio. 13(1): e03708-21. https://journals.asm.org/doi/ 10.1128/mbio.03708-21
- Cha SJ, Kim MS, Na CH, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2021. Plasmodium sporozoite phospholipid scramblase interacts with mammalian carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 1 to infect hepatocytes. Nat. Commun. 12 (1): 6773. https://www. nature.com/articles/s41467-021-27109-7. Selected as an editor’s featured article in Microbiology and Infectious diseases on Jan. 11th, 2022.
- Cha SJ, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2020. A Plasmodium key fits a mosquito lock. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 117(8): 3898-3900. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2000122 117.
- Cha SJ, McLean KJ, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2018. Identification of Plasmodium GAPDH epitopes for generation of protective antibodies that inhibit malaria infection. Life Sci. Alliance. 1(5), e201800111.
- Cha SJ, Kim MS, Pandey A, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2016. Identification of GAPDH on the surface of Plasmodium sporozoites as a new candidate for targeting malaria liver invasion. J. Exp. Med. 213(10), 2099-2112.
- Cha SJ, Park K, Srinivasan P, Schindler C, van Rooijen N, Stins M, Jacobs-Lorena M. 2015. CD68 acts as a major gateway for malaria sporozoite liver infection. J. Exp. Med. 212(9),1391-1403. Selected as a cover story (commented by Sacks D. (J. Exp. Med. 212(9), 1340. doi: 10.1084/jem.2129 insight1.)
- Cha SJ, Lobo N, deBruyn B, Severson DW. 2006. Isolation and characterization of the RanGAP gene in the mosquito Aedes aegypti. DNA Sequence 17, 223-230.
- Cha SJ, Mori A., Chadee DD, Severson DW. 2006. Population dynamics of meiotic drive in an Aedes aegypti natural population in Trinidad. Am J Trop Med Hyg 75(1), 70-77.
- Cha SJ, Mori A, Chadee DD, Severson DW. 2006. Cage trials using an endogenous meiotic drive gene in the mosquito Aedes aegypti, to promote population replacement. Am J Trop Med Hyg 74(1), 62- 68.
Grants
- R21AI166451 (NIH/NIAID), Cha (PI), 01/01/2023 – 12/31/2025, Development of novel malaria pre-erythrocytic vaccine antigens targeting Plasmodium sporozoite liver infection, The major goal of this project is to develop a novel malaria vaccine antigen that contains multiple epitopes for parasite liver invasion procedures.
- R21AI123613 (NIH/NIAID), Cha (Co-PI), 03/01/2016 – 02/28/2018, Characterization of Plasmodium GAPDH as a candidate for the development of a malaria pre-erythrocytic vaccine, The major goal of this project is the identification of PbGAPDH epitopes involved in binding to the CD68 Kupffer cell receptor and assessment of mimotope peptides P39, P61 and P52 as potential vaccine antigens.