New Scholar Award in Global Infectious Disease
Kent Hill, Ph.D.
University of California - Los Angeles

Mechanism and Biology of Trypanosome cell motility: contribution to parasite development and disease pathogenesis

African trypanosomes and related protozoan parasites are the source of morbidity and mortality in several million people worldwide. Cell motility is important for interaction of these parasites with their mammalian and insect hosts. However, the molecular mechanism of cell motility in these organisms has been largely unexplored. We will conduct a mutant screen to identify genes involved in cell motility in Trypanosoma brucei. Gene products will be characterized and mutants will be evaluated for infectivity in experimental animals and tsetse flies. These studies are expected to advance our understanding of microbial pathogenesis and illuminate novel aspects of parasite cell motility.

Contact Dr. Hill.