The project comprises three main parts:

1. Investigation into the mechanisms by which legume plants mobilise phosphorus from insoluble phosphorus complexes in soil. The results will lead to the development of intercropping or rotation systems between legume and cereal crops leading to the reduction in use of phosphate fertilisers.  We are aiming not only to save farmer’s money but also to reduce the risk of phosphate fertilisers polluting our water systems.
    

2. Examination of the enzymatic mechanisms to cope with oxidative stress caused by phosphorus deficiency in common bean. The project will look at different enzymes responsible for protection against oxidative stress such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin peroxidase.
    

3. Isolation, cloning and expression of thioredoxin peroxidase gene from malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and purification of thioredoxin peroxidase protein. Malaria parasites live in oxygen rich environments and they are believed to have mechanisms to cope with high levels of oxidative stress. The main focus of my project will be to investigate thioredoxin peroxidase, the antioxidant enzyme responsible for detoxification of hydrogen peroxide and organic peroxides (reactive oxygen species causing oxidative stress). The main aims are to obtain pure thioredoxin peroxidase and to screen for inhibitors that knock out the enzyme in malaria parasite. These results will aid the development of antimalarial drugs.