Dr. Fernando Sanchez-Valdéz, from Salta, Argentina, completed a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2014. After his Ph.D., he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Rick Tarleton´s laboratory at University of Georgia. In 2018, he obtained a Research Scientist position in the career pathway of the National Research Council in Argentina (CONICET). Earlier this year, he was awarded a fellowship from the CTEGD-Janssen Visiting Scholars Program, which enabled him to return to the Tarleton Research Group.
What is your primary research focus? Why are you interested in this subject?
The main focus of my research has been to uncover the mechanism of drug resistance in the Chagas disease agent, Trypanosoma cruzi. The main question we are trying to answer is why the treatment with highly effective drugs like Benznidazole (the current available treatment for Chagas disease) often fails to cure Chagas disease. By combining ex vivo luminescence assays and tissue-clearing techniques we were able to report, for the first time, the presence of dormant non-replicating amastigotes forms in the chronic phase of the disease. Dormant amastigotes were uniquely resistant to extended drug treatment in vivo and in vitro and could re-establish a flourishing infection after treatment interruption. T. cruzi‘s capacity to become dormant makes them transiently drug-resistant, suggesting that this phenomenon accounts for the failure of the otherwise highly active compounds such Benznidazole (Sanchez-Valdéz, et al eLife 2018).
Why did you choose UGA?
I returned to Athens in February 2019 to continue working on the findings we made during my postdoctoral training in the Tarleton Laboratory. I initially decided to come UGA based on a colleague’s recommendations and the fact that Tarleton´s lab is one of the reference centers for Chagas disease research. It’s a really motivating environment to do science since the scientific and technical level here is really high as well as diverse including areas as immunology, drug discovery, genetic manipulation, genomics, diagnostics, etc. Also the amount of resources available is impressive not only from the lab but also from the Biomedical Microscopy Core, Cytometry Shared Resource Laboratory and the animal facility at UGA.
What has been your research project while at UGA?
Currently, we are expanding our knowledge about T. cruzi dormancy and trying to interfere T. cruzi dormancy using new compounds or the conventional drugs but in a different treatment schedule. One of the approaches we are testing now involves the evaluation of drug doses and treatment schemes able to kill dormant parasites. For this purpose, we are optimizing a robust platform to detect low levels of parasites in whole clarified mice organs using light-sheet fluorescent microscopy. This technique will allow us the specific detection of low levels of persistent dormant parasites.
How has the CTEGD-Janssen Visiting Scholar Fellowship and your time at UGA impacted your research and professional goals?
I am so glad about the opportunity to continue working on T. cruzi dormancy with such experienced and renowned scientists and particularly using state-of-the-art microscopy techniques currently unavailable in South America. This experience will definitely have a positive impact on my career development and probably in the Chagas disease research field.
PREP@UGA Scholar Jilarie Santos Santiago, center, consults with her faculty mentor Stephen Hajduk, left, and postdoctoral mentor Michael Cipriano. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski)
PREP@UGA Scholars program trains next generation of life sciences researchers.
As an undergraduate student in Maryland, Ian Liyayi planned to major in nursing but got lost on the campus tour and found himself in the biochemistry department. He liked that even better.
When it came to preparing for graduate school, Liyayi didn’t want to get lost along the way, so he applied for the University of Georgia’s competitive PREP@UGA Scholars program to give him more experience before he began applying to doctoral programs.
“This program gets you fully ready for grad school because you get a ton of time in the lab,” said Liyayi, a current scholar who said he enjoyed research experiences in his undergraduate years at Stevenson University but didn’t gain much hands-on laboratory experience on long-term projects.
“I knew I wanted to do graduate school, but I didn’t feel like I was completely ready,” said Liyayi, a native of Kenya who grew up in Baltimore. “This program seemed like a perfect fit.”
With funding from a National Institutes of Health grant, the PREP@UGA Scholars program was created five years ago. Earlier this year, co-directors Erin Dolan and Mark Tompkins received a $2.1 million, five-year grant renewal, which will continue to fund a cohort each year of six to eight scholars from underrepresented groups or with limited opportunities in the STEM fields at their undergraduate institution.
To date, 32 students have participated in the program. About one in four later enrolled in a UGA doctoral program, with the remainder going on to graduate programs at other institutions. Programs such as PREP@UGA have helped make UGA the nation’s top public flagship university for the number of doctoral degrees it awards to African Americans.
“Undergraduate students are in the mindset of taking classes, but in grad school they don’t just consume knowledge, they create it,” said Dolan, Georgia Athletic Association Professor of Innovative Science Education in the department of biochemistry and molecular biology, part of the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. “This program smooths that transition to graduate school and to thinking like a scientist.”
While students spend most of their time in a laboratory, they also go through professional development workshops and benefit from the advice of a faculty mentor and an advanced graduate student or postdoctoral mentor. “It’s a holistic program,” Dolan said. “We focus on the research experience and the career around it.”
For Jilarie Santos Santiago, those mentors have helped her realize her potential in just her first few weeks on campus. “I am stepping out of my comfort zone,” said the graduate of the University of Puerto Rico Humacao, who is currently conducting research in Stephen Hajduk’s lab.
As an undergraduate, Santos Santiago worked on a project for several years to determine a way to thwart parasitic nematodes from destroying the plantain harvest on her home island, but she wanted to explore other areas of life sciences research and learn new techniques before beginning a doctoral program. She also wanted to improve her communication skills, and she’s excited to learn more about the process of publishing research articles.
“The transition to a Ph.D. program, it can be overwhelming. Even this building is confusing when you come from a small college,” Santos Santiago said from her lab in the Davison Life Sciences Complex. “It can be a lot to take in, but if you don’t take the first step, you never do it. This was the right first step for me.”
Tompkins, a professor of infectious diseases in the College of Veterinary Medicine, said his experience as a mentor for a PREP@UGA Scholar last year drove home the impact of the program on students, the research team and on academia as a whole.
“It’s a win-win for the students, the faculty member and the research mentor,” he said. “The perspectives that the scholars bring add a richness to the lab. For the university and academia, the program will have an intangible impact on increasing diversity in the long run.”
Tompkins’ former scholar, Carlie Neiswanger, who has recently begun her doctoral program in pharmacology at the University of Washington, said her experience as a PREP@UGA Scholar was “nothing short of life-changing.”
After a rocky start to her undergraduate education, she found her passion as a returning student but didn’t believe she had the grades and test scores to make graduate school an option. But her postbaccalaureate experience changed that while providing lessons in independent thinking and problem solving that have given her confidence going into her doctoral program.
“I knew that I wanted to stay in research after graduation, but I was at a loss for what the next steps would be if I wasn’t prepared for graduate school. The PREP program was a near-perfect solution for me,” said Neiswanger, an alumna of Washington State University. “Not only did I get to experience what it means to work full time in a lab while learning to balance things like classes and social life, it truly made me feel prepared for graduate work. … I worked really, really hard, and it paid off. Now I’m ready for the next step.”
Stephen Vella is a Ph.D. trainee in Silvia Moreno’s laboratory. He is originally from Indiana where he received his B.S. in microbiology at Indiana University. In his first year at UGA, he was awarded an Excellence in Graduate Recruitment Award and a Provost’s Scholars of Excellence Award Fellowship. He has also been awarded an Outstanding Poster Presentation at the Molecular Parasitology Meeting in 2016. And in 2017, he was awarded a T32 fellowship from CTEGD.
New T32 trainee Josh Butler is a third year Ph.D. student in Belen Cassera‘s laboratory. He is from Front Royal, Virginia and completed his B.S. in chemistry at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Butler decided to pursue his graduate degree at the University of Georgia because of the Integrate Life Sciences program which offers the opportunity to explore a range of research topics. The same interdisciplinary aspect is what he found appealing about the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and ultimately why he joined a lab within this department.
“There is no shortage of resources here, ranging from state of the art instrumentation and core facilities to people that are willing to mentor and train successful scientists,” said Butler. “Coming from a smaller institution, I had never really seen anything to this scale and I knew it was something I wanted to experience and become a part of.”
Research Focus
Broadly, Butler’s research is focused on antimalarial drug discovery. More specifically, he is using antimalarial natural products as tools to discover novel drug targets in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Nearly 220 million people have malaria, and it kills nearly half a million people each year. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe forms of malaria, such as cerebral malaria, which can lead to brain damage, coma, and death, and placental malaria, which can be life-threatening to both mother and fetus.
“I chose this research because not only does it contribute positively to the global campaign of malaria eradication, but from a training standpoint it would also provide a solid foundation for a career further researching and developing antimicrobial therapies in general.”
Capstone Experience
Each T32 trainee is provided with the opportunity to pursue a capstone experience. Butler hopes to do an internship with a pharmaceutical industry research group that is actively performing anti-parasitic research to experience how the type research he does as a graduate student can translate outside the realm of academia.
“Private-public collaboration in malaria research has really driven drug discovery research in a positive direction and I would like the opportunity to experience that first hand and develop acumen to engage in that type of research in the next stage of my career.”
Future Career Goals
“I would like to continue working in a field of scientific research which can positively impact people’s lives, whether it be through a biomedical or biotechnical avenue.”
Advice for Aspiring Scientists
“Don’t be afraid to fail or be wrong. Learn from it and use it to keep pushing forward. Try to find positives in the negatives.”
Support trainees like Josh by giving today to the Center for Tropical & Emerging Global Diseases.
One of the reasons Trisha Dalapati chose to attend UGA was because it has an environment and curriculum valuing a balance between the liberal arts and science. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
Trisha Dalapati has immersed herself in everything UGA offers, from volunteering to studying abroad to conducting lab research. The future physician is committed to using this knowledge to eventually deliver care to patients in an empathetic way.
Hometown:
Roswell, Georgia
High school:
Centennial High School
Family ties to UGA:
I am the first in my family to go to Georgia! When I committed to the G, our house was divided because my brother graduated from Tech. I think I convinced everyone to cheer for the Dawgs by now, so I am sure I won’t be the last Dalapati at Georgia!
M.S. Comparative Biomedical Sciences (Infectious Diseases)
University highlights, achievements, awards and scholarships:
I’ve been blessed with awesome opportunities and experiences at UGA which have only been possible through the support of the incredible people here.
During my freshman fall, a friend introduced me to the Lunchbox Garden project. LBG is an afterschool outreach program where UGA students visit a local elementary school twice a week. The group plans lessons on gardening and sustainable living, and volunteers provide the hands-on support for teaching the activities. As a kid, I loved summers of gardening tomatoes and eggplants with my mom. LBG reminded me of those memories, and I quickly fell in love with the endless energy elementary schoolers have. It’s rewarding to watch these kids learn about where food comes from and the responsibility we all have in taking care of our planet. It is such a joy to pull radishes out from the ground at the end of each semester!
I joined Dr. Julie Moore’s lab in the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases my freshman year. The CTEGD is a hotspot for cutting edge infectious disease research and multidisciplinary collaboration. I was drawn to the lab due to its dual focus on maternal health and infectious diseases. The Moore Lab investigates placental malaria, a disease that develops during pregnancy and is responsible for killing over 200,000 infants annually. I specifically study a dangerous cycle of inflammation and blood clotting that occurs during placental malaria. It has been incredibly rewarding to train in the Moore Lab and to convey the gravity of the disease burden to people inside and outside of the scientific community. Through the ups and downs of research, my fellow lab mates, our resident cheerleader Julie Range, and Dr. Moore have made working in the lab so much fun.
During the second semester of my freshman year, the Biochemistry Undergraduate Society was launched. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is thriving. Professors are making an impact on students inside the classroom and in their lab. Undergraduate students within BUS are on various pre-professional tracks and come from diverse niches across campus. Since BUS began, we have hosted an annual symposium, brought in speakers for coffee hours, held professional panels, and taken field trips like the “Biochemistry of Brewing” at Creature Comforts. BUS has been a blast!
At the end of my freshman spring, I flew to Oxford, England, to study biomedical ethics under the guidance of Dr. David Birks. Between typing papers furiously in the beautiful Radcliffe Camera overlooking the university to debating the morality of infanticide and physician-assisted suicide, this class was one of the most intellectually stimulating courses I have taken. I came to appreciate how UGA builds strong relationships with other universities and encourages students to partake in cross-cultural exchanges.
I continued living in my favorite city for the rest of summer while I interned at the Oxford Fertility Unit. My project focused on identifying what health care factors and diagnostic procedures affected the quality of life of patients with infertility. I shadowed skilled physicians and learned both the art and science of in vitro fertilization. Most importantly, I witnessed patient-physician bonds form during consultations.
In spring 2018, I left the day after my last final for the Bali Maymester. The term is led by Dr. Pete Brosius, Dr. Sarah Hitchner and their fearless and adorable toddler, Naia Bulan. For four weeks, a dozen of my peers and I studied Balinese Hinduism, the vibrant arts of the island, ecotourism, and the Tolak Reklamasi (“Reject Reclamation”) movement against the invasive mega-development on the island. I often reminisce about eating excessive amounts of papaya and coconut water, hiking Gunung Batur (the second tallest and sacred water mountain on the island) in my Chacos to watch the sunrise, and hanging out with one of Indonesia’s most famous punk rock bands after one of my friends serendipitously befriended the drummer.
I left Bali for Bangkok where I interned in the Department of Biochemistry at the Mahidol-Oxford Research Unit. This experience was generously funded by the Freeman Asia Grant. I worked under Dr. Markus Winterberg, an exceptional mentor and brilliant scientist. I analyzed blood samples from patients with tropical infectious diseases to identify biomarkers of the pathogens. Imagine how great it would be to use these biomarkers in something simple like a pregnancy test to diagnose diseases including malaria and dengue that can be quickly administered when a patient shows up with just a fever! Aside from the fun I had in lab, I ate ant egg omelets and the spiciest noodles that I believe exist on this earth, climbed to the highest point in Thailand, and visited close to 60 Buddhist temples.
I have also had the honor of being part of the Foundation Fellowship and the Honors Program. My thanks to Dr. David Williams, Jessica Hunt, Emily Myers, Maria de Rocher, Elizabeth Sears and, of course, my fabulous peers cannot be overstated. I am blown away by how much I continue to gain from this group – whether it be a book recommendation, information on an esoteric physics concept or a wonderful friendship. It is a privilege to be able to surround myself with such curious and kind individuals who are dedicated to changing the world in their own ways.
Another group I have grown in is Omicron Delta Kappa. ODK is a leadership honor society, and the chapter at UGA is dedicated to “uncommon friendships.” As a result, I’ve had the chance to have discussions every other week on topics including our campus’s history, music therapy in hospitals, and altruism with campus leaders. Other communities that have welcomed me include the Dean William Tate Honor Society, Palladia Women’s Honor Society and Blue Key Honor Society.
I chose to attend UGA because …
There are many reasons!
— Good dining halls. I am still on full meal plan and continue to eat many cookies, double chocolate chip muffins and peanut butter. It’s great.
— School spirit. I love that I see so many people wearing UGA gear every day around campus. My brother often reminds me that I can get my school spirit from anywhere, including Walmart.
— Study abroad programs. I caught the travel bug young. When speaking with current students during visits and orientation, it was obvious that I wouldn’t have to look far for these opportunities. UGA’s Office of International Education puts them on a platter for students and is working to make such experiences financially possible.
— An environment and curriculum valuing a balance between the liberal arts and science.
— Being close to my family.
My favorite things to do on campus are …
Walk through the Trial Gardens and wave at the children at the McPhaul Center! I love plants, and the novel varieties in the Trial Gardens are such a treat. It clears my mind to stroll through the garden before a test or after a long day. On my way to lab, the kids from the nursery school at the McPhaul Center are sometimes on the playgrounds. My day gets exponentially better when one of them waves at me!
When I have free time, I like …
… to run through campus and Athens! The hills in Athens were such a surprise when I first arrived. The first week I had sore legs simply from walking up from Bolton to Myers! I’ve grown fond of the hills and love to catch a quick run through the neighborhoods of Five Points in between or after classes. In the evenings, one of my favorite things to do is run laps at the Spec Towns Track with my best friend. We’re far from being D1 athletes, but it’s so much fun to run as fast as we can and race up and down the stairs. When I have a little more time, I enjoy visiting the intramural fields or Botanical Garden, especially when the leaves change color in the fall. Although it seems to defeat the purpose of exercise, I’m a big fan of running to Athens eateries like Ike and Jane or Ben and Jerry’s.
Trisha Dalapati has worked in professor Julie Moore’s lab in the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, a hotspot for cutting edge infectious disease research and multidisciplinary collaboration. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker/UGA)
The craziest thing I’ve done is …
… snorkel along the Wallace Line! The Wallace Line separates the flora and fauna of Asia and Australia and runs between two Indonesian islands, Bali and Lombok. This excursion was one of the last items on the itinerary for the Bali Maymester. I’d been secretly anxious. After watching “Finding Nemo,” I have a grand fear of getting lost in a dark abyss.
As soon as I got into the ocean, water rushed into my mask. While I was trying to blow the water out from the mouth piece, Dr. Brosius yelled to us from the boat about not swimming too far to the right. The current gets strong and might suck us in. In such a worst-case scenario, the boat wouldn’t be able to retrieve us. As my friends calmly bobbed along the current, I flailed like a fish out of water. My deepest fear was about to come true, and I could already feel my contact lens coming out of my eye.
Noticing my panic, a friend of the program, who joined us for excursions, came to the rescue. She grabbed my hand and told me to stop moving. When I was still, she ordered me to put my head into the water. And I looked. I was awestruck by the colorful fish, including a pufferfish, swimming under. I was a little braver for the rest of the excursion, swimming close to the boat with my head submerged!
My favorite place to study is …
… changing by the semester! The Reading Room on the third floor of the MLC is a hideaway to study for science classes. I appreciate the silence and diligence of other students who are studying, which motivates me to continue working. For papers, I hole up in a coffee shop nearby. The aroma of coffee, the acoustic tunes and a warm latte never fail to give a sense of comfort and to get the gears in my head going.
My favorite professor is …
There are many things that make UGA special, but what makes it an excellent institution of higher learning are the professors. These professors have helped me lay the foundation to building scholarship, and it’s impossible to pick one as a favorite.
Dr. Claiborne Glover is the epitome of an excellent teacher. He is incredibly thoughtful, kind and patient. His passion for biochemistry shows in each lecture. He begins all his lessons with a quote or cartoon to frame the subject within a larger context of life. Dr. Glover is ready to discuss any topic, including art, travel, scientific literacy and career aspirations, and these conversations are the ones I will remember long after I have graduated from UGA. He’s a polymath, really!
Dr. Julie Moore is my mentor and provides valuable advice on both experiments and my aspirations every time I need it. She cares deeply about her students, the lab group she brings together, and vulnerable populations affected by malaria. Through all her administrative responsibilities, she still has time to run a research program, and I am so thankful she does! In the lab, I am grateful for the daily guidance of Dr. Catherine Morffy-Smith. If I’m not already following Catherine around, I’m probably looking for her for help!
This list would not be complete without three other professors: Dr. Kim Klonowski, Dr. Christina Joseph and Professor Christine Franklin. As she has reminded me to do in life, Dr. Klonowski always keeps her doors open. She’s there to clarify a topic in immunology, share invaluable advice, or just tell a funny anecdote. I accredit much of my anthropology degree to Dr. Joseph. I’ve taken four classes with her! I keep taking them because I admire her pushing students to see the beauty of different cultures and to build friendships with local communities. Finally, I am forever thankful for my STAT 2100H class which led to many friendships including one with Professor Franklin. She serves as a role model not only for her statistical prowess but also for her ability to find the silver lining in every situation.
Lastly, the best teachers I will ever have are my parents! My dad was a math teacher in his early 20s back in India, and my mom is a loving early childhood teacher. They were the first to impart the value of education to me. Both have boundless supplies of wisdom and encouragement, which I’m lucky to get.
If I could share an afternoon with anyone, I would love to share it with …
My mother’s family has a locally famous house called Laal Bari, or the Red House, in Kolkata, India. The exterior of the house is painted red, and the floors are made of a burgundy linoleum. At one point, it housed three generations of my family, three dogs, and a continuous influx of guests. My sweetest memories include staying up late with my grandfather to hear stories about his childhood and running around on the rooftop garden during monsoon rains with my brother and cousins. Although most of our relatives still live in India, Laal Bari is empty after successive younger generations have moved away. I’d love to have another summer afternoon with all my extended family from both sides together in Laal Bari.
If I knew I could not fail, I would …
… teach dance. I have trained in an Indian classical dance style called Bharatanatyam since I was 4. Bharatanatyam is a rich art form. Using facial expressions, hand gestures, and footwork, the dancer is a storyteller of Hindu myths. From my teacher Guru Chandrika Chandran, I know that teaching Bharatanatyam requires patience, creativity and scholarly interpretation. I’d love to continue learning and passing down this ancient art to others.
If money was not a consideration, I would love to …
… fund more research for studying and designing therapeutics for neglected tropical diseases. Diseases like schistosomiasis and river blindness cost vulnerable populations millions of dollars by decreasing economic productivity and increasing health care costs. Although many nonprofits and some governments are working toward eliminating these diseases, a larger and coordinated research effort could expedite clearance.
One of the hardest parts about bench research and clinical work to me is seeing the amount of waste generated. According to the WHO, about 85 percent of health care waste is nonhazardous. Unfortunately, most of this goes to landfills or is incinerated, causing deleterious environmental impacts. It’d be awesome to support systems that improve waste sorting and disposal. I’d love to fund innovation in biodegradable medical supplies and research disposables.
What is your passion and how are you committed to pursuing it?
I find joy in learning about people and their cultures. It’s exciting to meet someone from a distant part of the world or even from my own community and exchange information on our customs and beliefs. Through studying anthropology, traveling and getting involved in this community, I’ve pursued this passion. In a clinical setting, I am interested in understanding how Western medicine mixes with traditional practices and how physicians act as mediators in these situations. I hope to recognize the diverse backgrounds of patients and deliver care to them in an empathetic way.
After graduation, I plan to …
I’ll be going back to school! I hope to attend medical school to become a physician and to attend graduate school to continue training in research.
The one UGA experience I will always remember will be …
I remember my move-out day freshman year pretty vividly. My roommate and I packed up our Myers dorm while bidding our friends goodbye. I was thrilled that we made it through finals and the year. I was already excited to see everyone in the fall and hear about their summers.
After packing, I spent the day at the Athens Twilight Festival in downtown. I watched thousands of locals and students gather and cheer on the athletes in the $1,000 mile and the cycling races. It was a lively and supportive crowd. It was a perfect representation of the good vibes I had been feeling the entire year at UGA.
One of the last things I had packed in the morning was a cliché painting that says, “Home is where the heart is.” I had hung it on the dorm door to remind me of home in Roswell. As the bikers whizzed by and friends chattered around me, I felt tranquil. Thinking back to the painting, I felt incredibly happy that I had found a great home in Athens, too!
Dr. Ciro D. Cordeiro recently completed his Ph.D. training in Roberto Docampo‘s laboratory.
I was born in Brazil and grew up in a small city in the heart of the country, a place of great natural beauty dominated by savannas and agriculture. I have always been fascinated by nature and curious about all forms of life. My interest in science motivated me to enroll in biology as an undergraduate at the University of Brasilia. As I learned the current challenges of modern biology, I became aware of how parasitic diseases are still a prevalent burden in my home country and abroad. After graduating, I enrolled in a master’s program where I studied the parasite that causes Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, and its vectors, the Triatominae bugs. Then I decided to study the pathogens’ cells at the molecular level, so I enrolled at The University of Georgia.
Why did you choose UGA?
I wanted to learn about parasitic diseases that affect tropical countries and UGA has one of the most complete and competent group of researchers working on tropical and neglected diseases. Here, I knew I would have many options of interesting labs, many of them with world-renowned researchers. Additionally, I wanted to be exposed to this rich research environment to learn about the work being developed in different model organisms.
What is your research focus/project and why are you interested in the topic?
I am studying phosphate and polyphosphate regulation in Trypanosoma brucei. Recently, I worked on the cell signaling pathway named inositol phosphates and looked at how they regulate phosphate homeostasis. Phosphate is essential for all living cells, but there is little information on how parasites’ and other unicellular organisms regulate it. One important molecule for phosphate storage is the ubiquitous polymer named polyphosphate. I believe that understanding phosphate and polyphosphate regulation in eukaryotic parasites may lead to a better understanding of the parasites’ biology. The study of phosphate regulation may also help us understand cellular biology processes of other organisms.
What are your future professional plans?
I intend to continue my training in a top-caliber research institution where I can keep studying the biology of parasites and learn about other cellular biology model organisms. I look forward to participating in interdisciplinary collaborations to address the core challenges related to parasitic diseases, while also serving as a mentor for students.
Have you worked with any collaborators outside of UGA during your training?
I was supported by the EMBO and CTEGD’s Training Innovations in Parasitologic Studies Fellowship to visit the lab of Dr. Adolfo Saiardi at the University College London to perform experiments during my Ph.D. training. We had a productive collaboration that resulted in a successful publication. This great experience enabled me to learn many new techniques that are now routinely used in our lab. Since then, Dr. Saiardi’s lab has published new interesting findings on polyphosphate, which are relevant to many of the current projects of our lab. If possible, I would like to visit Dr. Saiardi’s lab again to continue our collaborative projects.
What is your favorite thing about UGA?
My favorite thing about the experience in UGA was the diverse environment we encounter here. I met people from all continents and learned about their home countries, cultures, and their work. This was an exceptional opportunity to be exposed to new ideas and discover research topics unrelated to my own.
Any advice for a student interested in this field?
I think it is important to carefully choose where you want to study during graduate school. It is imperative to know the program you are enrolling in, when it comes to the research they are performing, the facilities available and whether that aligns with your expectations and ambitions.
Your finiancial donations to CTEGD support the research efforts of students like Ciro Cordeiro. Give today!
mCLING-staining of membrane (green) and DAPI staining of DNA (magenta) in trypanosomes in various life cycle stages. Flagella appear as tube-like structures along the length of the cell body. Nanotubes can be seen projecting outward from the periphery of the cells.
When Ph.D. trainee Justin Wiedeman started investigating the role of protein kinase TbCK1.2, an enzyme found near the flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei, he quickly ran into a problem common to parasitologists. He needed a better tool for visualizing the membranes of this parasite. Since none of the membrane probes on the market quite did the job, he looked at how he could modify one for his purpose. He found a successful candidate in Synaptic Systems’ mCLING.
What is Trypanosoma brucei?
Trypanosoma brucei is a single cell parasite that causes Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), which is also known as African sleeping sickness. HAT occurs in 36 sub-Saharan countries where tsetse flies transmit the parasite to people and livestock. In cattle, the disease is known as nagana. Tsetse fly control efforts have drastically reduced the number of cases. According to the World Health Organization, in 2015, there were around 2,800 cases. However, a person can be infected for months or even years without symptoms. By the time symptoms become evident, the person is in the advanced stages of the disease and their central nervous system is impaired.
New tools are needed to study trypanosomes
There is still much to be learned about the parasite that could lead to better detection and more effective treatment. A major obstacle to the study of this tiny organism is the lack of tools and technology. Kojo Mensa-Wilmot’s research group in the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases at The University of Georgia has been instrumental in developing techniques and tools to increase the research community’s understanding of T. brucei. Now, Wiedeman has added a new tool to the trypanosome biology toolbox – a general method of outlining trypanosomes in fluorescence microscopy experiments.
“We are the first group to solve this general problem in super-resolution microscopy of T. brucei,” said Wiedeman. “mCLING is a highly versatile tool for studying trypanosome biology – it can be used with live or fixed trypanosomes.”
Fluorescent microscopy has been a leading method of studying T. brucei; however, there are limitations to this technology. Super-resolution microscopy offers great advantages over standard fluorescence microscopy. By employing several techniques to increase resolution, it allows for the observation of objects smaller than what can be seen with visible light. Yet, it is not without its own limitations, most notably the inability to determine the periphery of cells. Without knowing the outer edges of the parasite, orientation of organelles and other structures within the cell is difficult.
“For Trypanosoma brucei, most of the membrane probes available do not work well in fixed trypanosomes,” said Wiedeman. “Researchers have been forced to use crude methods to outline trypanosomes in fluorescence microscopy.”
These “crude methods” include superimposing a transmitted light image or hand-drawing the outline. However, this workaround only allows for a two-dimensional study of the cell. Therefore, Wiedeman turned to a dye called mCLING that has been developed to track the membranes of neurons using super-resolution microscopy to see if he could adapt the technology to T. brucei membranes.
mCLING allows for the visualization of T. brucei membranes
“mCLING labels the flagellum and plasma membrane vividly, sometimes providing details of cell structure that rivals images obtained with scanning electron microscopy,” said Wiedeman.
Using a combination of standard-resolution and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, he was able to confirm mCLING labels the plasma and flagellar membranes of T. brucei. Furthermore, using the Zeiss ELYRA S1 super-resolution microscopy in the Biomedical Microscopy Core, mCLING allowed for a 3D reconstruction of the parasite. This is the first time such an image has been reported. Finally, using the new ImageStream X Mark II in the CTEGD Cytometry Shared Resource Laboratory, he discovered mCLING could be used to track endocytosis (the process of importing molecules into the cell) in real time.
Recognizing mCLING’s potential to inform other studies of trypanosome biology, Weideman optimized protocols for using it with immunofluorescence assays and thus making possible what had been impossible with the overlay technique – visualizing the location of organelles in the vertical dimension relative to the cell body.
“It is especially well-suited for studying flagellar membrane biogenesis as well as kinetically tracking uptake of the plasma membrane into vesicles inside trypanosomes,” said Wiedeman. Other laboratories have already implemented these protocols in their own research. Steve Hajduk’s group, also in the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, is using mCLING to study nanotubes in T. brucei.
This tool will allow for the study of trypanosomes in finer detail than ever before and the Mensa-Wilmot Research Group anticipates unlocking previously unseen secrets in T. brucei.
The full published study is available online: Wiedeman J, Mensa-Wilmot K (2018). A fixable probe for visualizing flagella and plasma membranes of the African trypanosome. PLoS One 13(5):e0197541. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197541
Anat Florentin, a post-doctoral associate in Vasant Muralidharan‘s laboratory, is originally from Israel. She received her BSc degree from Tel-Aviv University and MSc from the Weizmann Institute of Science. She obtained her Ph.D. also from the Weizmann Institute where she studied programmed cell death mechanisms using the fruit fly as a model organism. Dr. Florentin moved to the United States 4 years ago when she joined the Muralidharan Research Group. During her time at UGA, she has received a number of awards in recognition of her research:
American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship (2018-2020)
Postdoctoral Research Award, UGA Office of Research (2018)
Foreign travel award, UGA Office of Research (2018)
Best Poster Presentation award at the UGA GSPS Research Day (2016)
Best Postdoctoral Poster award at the 2015 UGA Conference on Drug Discovery (2015)
Why did you choose UGA?
Since my background is in basic cell biology and genetics, I knew very little of the biology of parasites but was determined to study malaria. While I was looking into different places in Europe and the US, I met with another Israeli, Lilach Sheiner who, at the time, was doing her postdoctoral training with Dr. Boris Striepen at UGA. She told me very good things of CTEGD and of a great newly recruited faculty who studies malaria. I came for a visit, and was impressed by the engaging scientific community, the super friendly atmosphere and the variety of different parasites and approaches to study tropical neglected diseases. I am so glad I made this decision!
What is your research focus/project and why are you interested in the topic?
The goal of my research is to understand the unique cell biology of malaria parasites and to identify potential drug targets. In order to do that I develop and apply genetic and molecular tools that are used to manipulate the genome of the parasite. During my years in the lab I was involved in several projects; One of them studies mechanisms by which the parasite transports proteins into the host red blood cell. Another interesting project focuses on a conserved complex from bacterial origin that resides within a unique parasite organelle called the apicoplast. Lastly, I am looking for genes that might be involved in programmed cell death processes in the parasites.
What are your future professional plans?
I want to establish my own research lab, conduct independent research and train the next generation of future scientists.
Have you done any field work or is there a collaborator/field site that you would like to visit in order to enhance your training?
Although we use field samples in our studies, I have never been to any field site, and would absolutely love to visit one. I am positive it will enhance my training and will add another layer to the work that I am doing. I am sure that visiting any field site in a malaria endemic area, such as Africa or Southeast Asia would be an enriching experience that would underline the significance of our work.
What is your favorite thing about UGA and Athens, GA?
Many things… At CTEGD I cherish the collaborative atmosphere, the variety of parasitism-related topics, the strong basic science that goes together with field studies and translational research. I am highly appreciative of the fact that I have access to a huge amount of knowledge by working side by side with top experts in these fields.
Athens is also great. Moving here in 2014 with a family of 2 young kids couldn’t go smoother! We found here a great community of friends, great public schools, and amazing nature. I love the mountains, the trees and the wildlife around us!
Any advice for students interested in this field?
There is still so much to do and learn in the field of parasitology and every discovery that you make may impact the life of the millions that suffer from these diseases. Don’t hesitate if you don’t know much about parasites. No matter what your background is, you can use the tools and knowledge that you acquired and apply them to this challenging but rewarding research!
Your financial gift to the CTEGD Fund helps provide field research opportunities to trainees like Anat Florentin through The CTEGD Training Innovations in Parasitological Studies Fellowship.
Kerri Miazowicz is a 3rd year Ph.D. trainee in Courtney Murdock‘s laboratory. She grew up in southern Michigan where she received a B.S. in microbiology from Michigan State University in 2012. After graduation, she spent more than two years as a Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIH/NIAID in Montana with the Virus Ecology Unit within the Laboratory of Virology.
Choosing the University of Georgia
Kerri chose the University of Georgia for her graduate training because she wanted to conduct interdisciplinary research related to disease ecology and vector-borne disease transmission.
“UGA hosts many experts across several scientific disciplines allowing me to link molecular biology and individual level phenotypes to population-level dynamics,” said Kerri. ” UGA is also home to the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and the Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases (CEID), which both provide valuable research resources and expertise.”
Research Focus
Kerri’s research focuses on environmental drivers of mosquito-borne disease transmission. Mainly, understanding how the environment affects the mosquito vector and modeling the consequences of these interactions on transmission dynamics.
“My current project revolves around temperature effects on Anopheles stephensi [the primary mosquito that transmits malaria in Asia] trait performance (longevity, biting frequency, and population growth), and mathematically exploring the implications these effects have on transmission.”
She will also investigate how Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria, exposure and infection modify these mosquito traits which are critical in transmission events.
“I find vector-borne diseases interesting due to the immense complexity that these systems contain,” said Kerri. “I also find it interesting to think about ‘scaling-up’ the outcome of molecular interactions and individual phenotypes to the context of population-level dynamics.”
Kerri has been able to conduct fieldwork within the Athens area to study how microclimate across an urban area can influence mosquito development along with adult mosquito traits with are important for mosquito-borne disease transmission.
“If I was able to travel for research purpose, it would be to India or Africa, where malaria is endemic, to study local mosquito populations.”
Trainee Earns Accolades
Kerri has received a number of awards recognizing her academic and research achievements. In 2009, she was named a 2008-2009 Regional Semifinalist for the Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Program. In 2010, Kerri was named a National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholar.
In 2014, she received an OITE Travel Award to attend the NIH Graduate and Professional School Fair, which allows NIH interns and postbacs to explore where the next step in their training will be.
Since coming to UGA, she has received an American Society of Virology Travel Award (2016) and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that funds 3 years of research training. In 2017, she received a travel award to attend the annual meeting of the Vector Behavior Ecology Research Coordination Network (VectorBITE RCN) at Imperial College in London.
What’s Next
While Kerri has a few more years of training at UGA, she hopes to continue conducting scientific research related to disease ecology and transmission dynamics in either an academic or government setting.
Your financial gift to CTEGD funds the Training Innovations in Parasitologic Studies (TIPS) Fellowships which allows trainees like Kerri Miazowicz to travel to international field sites for research. Give Today!
Beatrice Colon, an Illinois native, is a Ph.D. trainee in Dennis Kyle’s laboratory. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Master of Science degree from the University of South Florida (USF). She began her Ph.D. at USF as well.
Beatrice moved to the University of Georgia in January 2017 with the Kyle Lab.
“I decided to transfer universities because of the excellent infectious disease department,” said Beatrice.
Research and Training
“My favorite thing about the CTEGD is the openness for collaborations; the center is also very focused on training a new generation of scientists. “
Beatrice is currently working on a drug discovery project for the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. The disease was the major factor that drew her to the project. Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is nearly always fatal and affects young healthy children. Moreover, there is not an effective drug treatment for people that do get infected with the amoeba.
In her short time at UGA, Beatrice has won first place for a poster presentation at the graduate student and postdoc symposium. She was also selected for the Biology of Parasitism course at Woods Hole, MA this past summer.
“This course was definitely a career-changing experience – I was able to work with a variety of infectious diseases and learn techniques that were not available for the parasite I work on.”
What’s Next
Beatrice is interested in staying in drug discovery for infectious diseases and currently looking at positions in both academia and industry.
Dr. Fernando Sanchez-Valdéz, from Salta, Argentina, completed a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2014. After his Ph.D., he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Rick Tarleton´s laboratory at University of Georgia. In 2018, he obtained a Research Scientist position in the career pathway of the National Research Council in Argentina (CONICET). Earlier this year, he was awarded a fellowship from the CTEGD-Janssen Visiting Scholars Program, which enabled him to return to the Tarleton Research Group.
