I. Bruchhaus

A system for functional studies of the major virulence factor of malaria parasites

The paper develops a system to study PfEMP1, a key malaria parasite virulence factor, by generating parasites expressing a single PfEMP1 variant and enabling genome edits to investigate its function.

Cytoadhesion of Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells changes the expression of cytokine-, histone- and antiviral protein-encoding genes in brain endothelial cells

The paper shows that Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells alter gene expression in brain endothelial cells, activating immune and antiviral pathways, and increasing cytokine and angiogenesis-related genes.

FoxO factors preserve airway epithelial homeostasis by coordinating adaptive stress responses

The paper shows FoxO factors in Drosophila, mouse, and human airway epithelial cells respond to stressors by nuclear translocation, with FoxO-dependent stress pathways altered in asthma across species.

Proteins differentially expressed between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica clones influence pathogenicity by different mechanisms

This study identifies two genes, ehhp127 and ehmp8-2, differentially expressed between pathogenic and non-pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica clones, showing they influence pathogenicity through distinct mechanisms.

A mitochondrial sirtuin shapes the intestinal microbiota by controlling lysozyme expression

This study shows that dSirt4 in Drosophila controls lysozyme expression in the intestine, altering microbiota composition and reducing lifespan.

An unusual trafficking domain in MSRP6 defines a complex needed for Maurer's clefts anchoring and maintenance in P. falciparum infected red blood cells

The paper identifies a novel domain in MSRP6 that mediates Maurer's clefts anchoring and maintenance in P. falciparum, but shows these functions are dispensable for PfEMP1 transport and cytoadherence.