Catherine J. Merrick

Nanopore sequencing reveals the DNA replication timing programme of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

This study uses nanopore sequencing to determine the replication timing programme of Plasmodium falciparum and links it to DNA breaking and replication fork stalling.

L-lactate is a regulator of gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium falciparum

This paper shows that L-lactate promotes gametocytogenesis in Plasmodium falciparum by inducing histone lactylation and regulating the GDV-1/AP2-G epigenetic pathway.

Lactylated histones mark virulence gene families in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

This study identifies lactylated histones as markers of virulence genes in Plasmodium falciparum, showing their enrichment at genes involved in host-cell remodelling and dynamic regulation across the cell cycle.

Cell cycle checkpoint activity in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

This paper identifies a cell cycle checkpoint in Plasmodium falciparum in response to DNA damage, suggesting checkpoint kinase activity despite lacking clear homologues, and proposes checkpoint inhibitors as potential synergists with artemisinin.

Histone lactylation: a new epigenetic mark in the malaria parasite Plasmodium

The paper identifies histone lactylation as a new epigenetic mark in malaria parasites, showing its metabolic sensitivity and differential abundance between species.

DNA replication dynamics are associated with genome composition in Plasmodium species

This study compares DNA replication dynamics in two Plasmodium species with different A/T-content genomes, finding that P. falciparum has slower and more consistent replication fork speeds despite high A/T bias.

Characterisation of cell cycle checkpoint kinases in Toxoplasma gondii

This study identifies and characterizes the DNA damage checkpoint kinases ATM and ATR in Toxoplasma gondii, revealing their unique roles in regulating replication and response to DNA damage.