Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The term Apicomplexa refers to a group of prolific parasites, including the causative agents of malaria and toxoplasmosis, which represent threats both in Canada and globally. Apicomplexan cells contain compartments known as organelles, which act like miniature shipping centres where cargo can be stored, sorted, and sent to other centres via mobile carriers. Transport between centres is known as membrane trafficking and requires specialized cellular machinery to ensure function and specificity. Though many of these compartments are similar to those found in our own cells, Apicomplexa possess several compartments that are unique to this group, known collectively as "invasion organelles". These organelles are used like harpoons during the process of host invasion; the parasite fires at the host cell, penetrates it, and then pulls itself inside. However, once these harpoons are launched, they are effectively spent, and the parasite must rebuild its arsenal during its residence in the host cell. This crucial process of forming new invasion organelles relies on the membrane trafficking system. If this process is disrupted in any way, the invasion organelles are not formed, and the parasite cannot invade new host cells. Without the ability to hide in host cells, the parasite succumbs quickly to host immune responses or starvation. Despite the importance of membrane trafficking for parasite survival, a full picture of this system is still emerging. Using advanced computational methods, I will identify trafficking machinery encoded in the genomes of these parasites. Working with international collaborators, I will further characterize these genes using transcriptomic (gene expression) and cell biological (gene function) approaches to determine which genes are involved in this critical trafficking process. This project will significantly enhance understanding of an essential process in a group of deadly parasites important both globally, and here in Canada.