Home Department: Human Biology
Mentor: John Boothroyd (Microbiology & Immunology)

“Dissecting the Involvement of the Toxoplasma gondii Gene 224060 in Dense Granule Protein Translocation”

Julia’s research project aims to understand how a specific gene, 224060, is involved in the movement of dense granule proteins (GRAs) within a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma is a tiny organism that can only survive inside the cells of its host, like humans or animals, and needs to transport certain proteins across membranes to live. The gene 224060 produces a protein that may play a role in this transportation process. Julia will use several techniques to determine the function of this protein in this specific translocation process. By studying Toxoplasma, insights can be gained into the biology of diverse organisms and provide valuable knowledge about host-parasite interactions that can impact both human and animal health.