Abstract

The Cryptosporidium parasite is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children around the world. While acute infections can be fatal, even mild infections are strongly correlated to malnutrition and subsequent growth stunting. Despite this significant impact on global public health, there are no fully effective treatments and our fundamental understanding of infection biology is sorely lacking. To drive the research field forward, we isolated a strain of Cryptosporidium tyzzeri, a natural mouse pathogen that is a close relative of the Cryptosporidium hominis species that infects humans. Leveraging CRISPR -directed homology repair, we developed a fully tractable mouse model that allows for genetic manipulation of both host and parasite. Using this model, we’ve identified NLRP6 driven inflammation as an important first line of defence against infection. We are now expanding this model into genome wide screens to identify and define other important molecular mechanisms of parasite virulence and host resistance to infection.

We encourage in person attendance but the talk will also be streamed via zoom