Eukaryotic Pathogenesis

Ira Blader, PhD.

Ira J. Blader, PhD, is focused on how the parasite Toxoplasma gondii grows inside of its host cell. He also seeks to increase knowledge of how anti-Toxoplasma immune responses function in the central nervous system. 

Our research on pathogenic eukaryotes focuses on the basic biology of these complex pathogens, such as protozoan parasites and fungi, and host interactions in response to their infection.

Understanding Disease-Causing Organisms

We study Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes serious disease in those with compromised immune systems, including AIDS patients. Considered an ideal model system, we also use this genome-sequenced organism to study how related pathogens, like malaria-inducing Plasmodium, cause disease.

We also study multiple aspects of the biochemistry and cell biology of Trypanosoma brucei, which causes African sleeping sickness. Our research is exploring, for example, RNA editing, RNA turnover, ribosomal biogenesis, protein arginine methylation and secretion and protein trafficking in this tse-tse fly-transmitted parasite.

All of this work is relevant to the related parasite T. cruzi — which causes South American Chagas disease. Our long-term goal is to discover potential drug targets.

We research the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans, including how it adapts to its host environment through posttranscriptional gene regulation. This microbe causes one of the most common life-threatening fungal infections in AIDS patients.

We also are exploring co-infection of this fungus with HIV in human macrophages.

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Department Faculty

Bangs, James
James Bangs, PhD
Grant T. Fisher Professor and Chair of Microbiology & Immunology

Blader, Ira
Ira Blader, PhD
Professor

Panepinto, John
John Panepinto, PhD
Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Education

Read, Laurie
Laurie Read, PhD
Professor