Samarchith Kurup

Training

2013 Ph.D., Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
2008 MVSc., Indian Veterinary Research Institute, UP, India
2006 DVM Kerala Agricultural University, Kerala, India

Research

Research in the Kurup lab is focused on understanding the mechanism of natural and acquired immunity to liver-stage malaria. We investigate the cellular and molecular pathways that help detect Plasmodium in the infected hepatocytes and help drive immunity to the parasite.

Selected Publications

1. Marques-da-Silva C, Schmidt-Silva C, Bowers C, Charles-Chess NAE, Shiau, JC, Park E-S, Yuan Z, Kim B-H, Kyle DE, Harty JT, MacMicking JD, Kurup SP. Type I interferons induce guanylate-binding proteins and lysosomal defense in hepatocytes to control malaria., Cell Host Microbe; 33(4):529-544.e9 (2025) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2025.03.008
2. Marques-da-Silva C, Schmidt-Silva C, Kurup SP. Hepatocytes and the art of killing Plasmodium softly., Trends in Parasitology; 40(6) 466-476 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2024.04.004
3. Marques-da-Silva C, Schmidt-Silva C, Baptista RP, Kurup SP. Inherently Reduced Expression of ASC Restricts Caspase-1 Processing in Hepatocytes and Promotes Plasmodium Infection., Journal of Immunology; 212 (4): 596-606 (2024) https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2300440
4. Marques-da-Silva C, Poudel B, Baptista RP, Peissig K, Hancox LS, Shiau JC, Pewe LL, Shears MJ, Kanneganti T-D, Sinnis P, Kyle DE, Gurung P, Harty JT, Kurup SP. AIM2 Sensors Mediate Immunity to Plasmodium Infection in Hepatocytes., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; 120 (2) e2210181120 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2210181120
5. Marques-da-Silva C, Peissig K, Walker MP, Shiau JC, Kyle DE, Vijay R, Lindner SE, Kurup SP. Direct type I Interferon signaling in hepatocytes controls malaria., Cell Reports; 40(3):111098 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111098
6. Kurup SP, Butler NS, Harty JT., T cell-mediated immunity to malaria, Nature Reviews Immunology 9(7):457-471 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41577-019-0158-z
7. Kurup SP, Anthony SA, Hancox LS, Vijay R, Pewe LL, Moioffer SJ, Sompallae R, Janse CJ, Khan SM, Harty JT. Monocyte-Derived CD11c+ Cells Acquire Plasmodium from Hepatocytes to Prime CD8 T Cell Immunity to Liver-Stage Malaria, Cell Host & Microbe; 10;25(4):565-577.e6 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2019.02.014
8. Kurup SP, Obeng-Adjei N, Anthony SM, Traore B, Doumbo OK, Butler NS, Crompton PD, Harty JT., Regulatory T cells impede acute and long-term immunity to blood-stage malaria through CTLA-4, Nature Medicine; 23(10):1220-1225 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1038/nm.4395
9. Kurup SP, Tarleton RL., The Trypanosoma cruzi Flagellum Is Discarded via Asymmetric Cell Division following Invasion and Provides Early Targets for Protective CD8+ T Cells., Cell Host & Microbe; 16(4): 439-49 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2014.09.003
10. Kurup SP, Tarleton RL., Perpetual expression of PAMPs necessary for optimal control and clearance of a persistent pathogen, Nature Communications; 4:2616 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3616

News

Kurup wins prestigious PATH award for groundbreaking malaria research

All the pieces matter: UGA researchers collaborate to solve malaria puzzle

UGA researcher uncovers humans’ natural weapon against malaria

Podcasts & Video