Exploring lipid transport in malaria parasites

Our lab studies how lipids move between organelles, a fundamental but poorly understood cellular process. We use Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes severe malaria, as a model system to investigate how lipids are transported. Malaria parasites rely on lipids to support rapid organelle expansion and membrane remodeling throughout their complex life cycle. To facilitate these processes, lipids must be transported between organelles and across the host-pathogen interface. However, lipid transport remains a black box in Plasmodium biology. We use cutting-edge techniques such as cryo-EM, cryo-ET, CRISPR gene editing and expansion microscopy to probe putative lipid transport protein complexes. Uncovering new transport mechanisms will improve our understanding of transporter structure and function, provide new insights into the biology of malaria parasites and reveal new areas for malaria treatment.

Expansion microscopy of a P. falciparum schizont in a red blood cell (lipids, protein content)