Molecular Parasitology Section

Dr. Grigg obtained his Ph.D. and D.I.C. in 1994 from the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, University of London. Dr. Grigg was an HHMI Senior Fellow at the University of Washington from 1994-1997, then a Postdoctoral Scholar in Molecular Parasitology at Stanford University from 1997-2001. In 2002 he became a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of British Columbia before joining the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health in 2007 where he is a Senior Investigator. In 2018 he was elected an American Academy of Microbiology Fellow.

Aline investigates Toxoplasma gondii genes involved in parasite sexual development and transmission, as well as surface antigens that modulate host immunity to promote persistence in mammalian hosts. In parallel, she studies the biochemical, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying disease attenuation during Giardia infection, with a focus on Giardia-induced type 2 immunity. Aline is also developing transmission-blocking vaccine strategies against Toxoplasma, including live-attenuated and virus-like particles (VLP) platforms, and exploring how protozoan antigens can function as adjuvants to prime protective immune responses.

Fadila leads research projects focused on uncovering the molecular strategies human viruses use to hijack host cellular machinery, enabling efficient replication and evasion of immune responses. This work is driven by several key questions: (1) How does several host enzymes, including the innate immune factor TRIM5 restrict tick-borne flaviviruses? (2) Does TRIM5 function as a restriction factor targeting incoming HIV-1 cores at nuclear pores (NUPs)? (3) Which determinants within the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein govern rapid viral entry and facilitate stealth transmission in vivo? (4) How virus-like particle (VLP) or nanovector-based vaccines can be engineered to efficiently deliver antigens to mucosal surfaces.

Beth investigates the biology and pathogenesis of apicomplexan parasites, with a focus on Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Using cell and molecular biology approaches, she identifies and characterizes parasite virulence determinants that modulate host cell function and immune responses. Of particular interest is defining parasite proteins that impact innate immune mechanisms, such as...

Eliza has dedicated over ten years to studying tropical infectious diseases and host-microbe interactions with expertise in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Parasitology, Genetics and Microbiota. Currently, she's focused on two main projects: 1) Investigate the genetics of parasites such as Cryptosporidium, Leishmania, and Trichomonas, conducting in-depth investigations into their genetic...

Rahul has done his Ph.D. in the field of Life Sciences from National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India. He worked on the role of secondary messenger signaling pathways in the development of P. falciparum and T. gondii. Currently, he is investigating the role of host E3 ubiquitin ligases in the defense against various disease-causing pathogens with a special interest towards Toxoplasma and...

Mabel’s research is focused on the genetic population of African trypanosomes. She is particularly interested in understanding how hybridisation events within trypanosome populations contribute to the emergence of new virulent strains and their impact on disease epidemiology.

Stephanie is an NIH-Oxford scholar interested in the intrinsic cellular barriers to viral infection. Her current work leverages the power of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and correlative approaches in cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) to characterize novel restrictive functions of TRIM5α against orthoflaviviruses. By elucidating the structural intricacies of TRIM5α, Stephanie aims to...

Andrea’s current research is focused on the genetics of Leishmania, particularly in clinical samples, through the development of molecular assays for diagnostic speciation. She is also interested in host-vector-pathogen interactions in leishmaniasis and how this relates to disease outcomes for patients.

Sabikun uses molecular genetic techniques to study the parasites Neospora caninum, Tritrichomonas, and Leishmania. She uses PCR- Taqman- and Sequence-based detection strategies to genotype Neospora caninum in tissue samples, distinguish among different species of rodent Tritrichomonas parasites, and NMAS-Seq approaches to genotype different strains of Leishmania causing human infection. Through...