How do intracellular parasites adapt to changes in nutrient availability? Competition for nutrients lies at the heart of the host-parasite relationship. The intracellular parasites Toxoplasma and Plas

Description

How do intracellular parasites adapt to changes in nutrient availability? Competition for nutrients lies at the heart of the host-parasite relationship. The intracellular parasites Toxoplasma and Plasmodium encounter different nutrient environments as they infect different organs of their host. This project aims to test the hypothesis that these parasites adjust key metabolic pathways in response to changes in nutrient availability, and that these adaptations are critical for facilitating parasite infection. Using cutting-edge experimental approaches, the project will identify the enzymes and metabolic pathways that enable intracellular parasites to respond to changing nutrient environments. Our study will reveal metabolic vulnerabilities in parasites that can be exploited in future therapeutic interventions.. Scheme: Discovery Projects. Field: 3101 - Biochemistry and Cell Biology. Lead: A/Prof Giel van Dooren