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For World Malaria Day, Dr. Audrey Odom John and April’s Faculty Member of the Month for Parasitology shares her eureka moment that stimulated her interest in research and her current work to harness parasite-specific processes to develop new ways to diagnose or treat malaria.

Dr. Audrey Odom John is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and of Molecular Microbiology at Washington University School of Medicine and an attending physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. A native of North Carolina, she received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Duke University, before completing her residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Washington. She joined the faculty at Washington University in 2008. She is a recipient of the Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award, the March of Dimes Basil O’Connor award, and was selected in 2016 as a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases (PATH).

Can you tell us a little bit about your work?

We have focused on unique aspects of parasite metabolism that are distinct from the human host

We are interested in metabolism in the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite, that is, what biomolecules does the parasite make and why does it need to make them? We have focused on unique aspects of parasite metabolism that are distinct from the human host, and we have been particularly keen to harness these parasite-specific processes to develop new ways to diagnose or treat malaria.

What triggered your interest in research?

I had an amazing undergraduate research experience in the laboratory of Joseph Heitman (Duke University), and Joe has remained a very important influence and mentor for me. There is also one morning that particularly stands out.

Alone in the lab, I grabbed my petri dishes from the incubator. Looking down, I realized that, based on our results, there was a new piece of knowledge in the world and I was the only one who knew it. It was one of those ever-so-rare “eureka” moments in science. Before then, I was certainly eager and enthusiastic, but from that moment on, I was completed hooked.

What are the biggest influences on your research?

I have been so inspired by the great trainees in my lab. I enjoy our brainstorming sessions, where we hash over new data or new publications in our field together, these are my favourite.

It was one of those ever-so-rare “eureka” moments in science. Before then, I was certainly eager and enthusiastic, but from that moment on, I was completed hooked.

 

What was your last recommendation and why did you pick it?

The last article I recommended was “Screening for Babesia microti in the U.S. Blood Supply” by Moritz ED et al. (N Engl J Med 2016, 375(23):2236-2245). Babesiosis is an emerging infection in the US that is closely related to malaria but relatively underappreciated and, I believe, understudied.

What do you like about working on F1000Prime?

I have really appreciated the “Selection Sections” and “New Content” alert emails.  There are many different ways that I keep up with the current literature, but F1000Prime always turns up interesting papers that I otherwise might have missed.

What would you say is the best piece of career advice that you received that you would like to pass on to early career researchers?

While I personally encourage trainees to work on what they love, I can’t resist passing on advice from my former mentor, Joe Heitman: “Multiple projects lead to multiple successes.”