Cryo-EM Studies of Organelle Formation in Parasites , Jennifer Nwokeji, UG,'25 (47CC11C8)

Toxoplasmosis and malaria are parasitic diseases with significant global health impacts. An estimated 1 in every 3 individuals worldwide are infected with toxoplasmosis, and over 600,000 die annually from malaria. Apicomplexa, the phylum encompassing the disease-causing agents of these devastating illnesses, are a group of single-celled parasites distinguished by specialized organelles in their apical region. Among these structures are micronemes and rhoptries, secretory organelles essential for host cell invasion. Micronemes and rhoptries secrete proteins that allow the parasites to attach to and invade host cells, making them indispensable in apicomplexa parasitic function. The process of microneme and rhoptry biogenesis is not well understood, but a particular protein has been identified as part of the first steps in their synthesis. The goals of this project are to investigate the structure and mechanism of this protein in microneme and rhoptry formation. Greater understanding of critical parasite functions, including secretory organelle biogenesis, may inform future work identifying targets for drug and vaccine development.