Research Topics
Our laboratory is interested in the molecular mechanisms by which pathogens evade the host immune system to establish infection, and in the development of new therapeutics including drugs and vaccines.
Antigenic variation in trypanosomes
We are interested in how the single-celled protozoan parasites, trypanosomes, use their large repertoire of virulence genes to evade immune recognition and establish infection. We investigate how the parasite coordinates switches in virulence-factor expression and its interactions with the immune system to establish long-term infection.
Phosphoinositide signalling and gene regulation
We study the signaling and regulatory processes that control the monogenic transcription of variant antigen genes and their periodic switching in expression, which is essential for antigenic variation in trypanosomes. We focus on how phosphoinositides regulate the machinery involved in gene silencing, transcriptional switching, and recombination.
Regulation of genome spatial architecture
We are interested in the molecular and biophysical mechanisms that control chromatin spatial organization and genome compartmentalization into transcriptionally active and silent regions. We also aim to identify the machinery that controls chromatin 3D assembly and its role in gene regulation.
Vaccines and drugs for neglected diseases
We use yeast surface display and genomics to identify vaccine targets and target-based drug candidates for neglected diseases that affect humans and animals. We are particularly interested in a therapeutic vaccine for chronic Chagas disease, a deadly infectious disease with no available treatment.