Profile

Unicellular protozoans of class Apicomplexa are the single most important class of infectious agents, which are important not only for human health but also for animal health. Together, this class of pathogens surpasses the morbidity and mortality caused by cancers or metabolic disorders worldwide. Apicomplexan parasites like Toxoplasma gondii (the causative agent toxoplasmosis) have a zoonotic predisposition, making them an important pathogen to study for animal and human health. We are interested in understanding the pathobiology of this important parasite class, including the molecular basis of how it co-opts the host signaling pathway to grow and multiply within a host cell.