Speaker: Prof. David Sibley, Washington University, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, USA
Date: Wednesday, 13th of September 2017, 5:00 pm
Location: Campus FME, Haus 22, Seminarraum 3
Host: Prof. Dr. Ildiko Dunay (OvGU, Institut für Inflammation und Neurodegeneration)
Further Information: Prof. Sibley's team studies the parasite Toxoplasma gondii as a model for intracellular pathogens that cause many of the world’s most debilitating infectious diseases. Toxoplasma is extremely widespread, infecting almost 25% of the human population. Although infections are normally benign, toxoplasmosis is an important pathogen in immunocompromised patients including newborns, elderly, and those with underlying immune deficiencies. The explore the molecular mechanisms whereby T. gondii disrupts host cell signaling and blocks immunity using a variety of cellular and molecular approaches. Furthermore they develop in vitro methods to cultivate and develop genetic tools in Cryptosporidium, a widespread cause of diarrheal disease in the developing world.