Manuela Carrasquilla

Continental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria with rapid nanopore sequencing

The paper develops a rapid, cost-effective nanopore sequencing protocol and bioinformatics dashboard for continental-scale genomic surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sub-Saharan Africa.

Plasmodium falciparum expresses fewer var genes at lower levels during asymptomatic dry season infections than clinical malaria cases

The paper compares var gene expression in asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections and clinical malaria cases during dry and wet seasons in Mali, finding fewer and lower-level var transcripts in asymptomatic carriers.

Seasonal transcriptional profiling of malaria parasites using a new single-cell atlas of a Malian Plasmodium falciparum isolate

This study uses single-cell RNA-seq to profile seasonal changes in Plasmodium falciparum parasites, showing older parasites circulate in the dry season and transcriptional changes in exported proteins affecting cytoadhesion.

Red blood cell tension controls Plasmodium falciparum invasion and protects against severe malaria in the Dantu blood group

The paper shows that Dantu blood group variant increases red blood cell tension, reducing Plasmodium falciparum invasion and protecting against severe malaria.