Parasitology

BIOGRAPHY

Contact details:
From January 2008

Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Tropical Medicine
George Washington University Medical Center
2300 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037

Research in our laboratory focuses on helminth parasites that infect people. We are interested in the genome, proteome and biochemistry of the human schistosomes, Opisthorchis viverrini, Fasciola hepatica, hookworms, trongyloides stercoralis, among others.

Our research is primarily laboratory-based, but also involves epidemiological and evolutionary studies in collaboration with field-based collaborators. We have active collaborations with researchers in helminth disease-endemic locations in Thailand, China and Australia.

Current projects include:

-Development of transgenesis for schistosomes
-Relationship between liver fluke infection and liver cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) in Thailand
-Structure and function of mobile genetic elements in schistosome and hookworm genomes
-Gene discovery, genome mapping and exploration of genetic diversity in the Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni genomes
-Host specificity in haematophagous parasites including hookworms, schistosomes, etc: exploration of the contribution of parasite haemoglobin-digesting enzymes to host range.