Atypical centrosome and microtubule organization in dividing malaria parasites | New Voices in Infection Biology

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Talk abstract:

Rapid proliferation of malaria parasites through divisions inside human red blood cells contributes to pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying cell division of Plasmodium falciparum are understudied. Contrary model organisms the parasite divides by multiple asynchronous nuclear divisions that are not interrupted by cytokinesis. This leads to the formation of a multinucleated parasite stage prior to the formation of daughter cells. Centriolar plaques, the centrosomes of P. falciparum, are a likely key regulator of division and serve as microtubule organizing centers. Using advanced microscopy techniques such as STED nanoscopy, live cell imaging, and electron tomography we aimed to reveal the detailed ultrastructural organization of this atypical organelle. We thereby uncovered a bipartite organization with an extranuclear and an extended intranuclear region. This region houses distinct microtubule nucleation sites and seems to otchestrate their drastic reorganization throughout the phases of division.

Julien studied Biotechnology at the University of Karlsruhe and Strasbourg (ESBS) from 2001 to 2006 and obtained his PhD in 2011 from the ETH Zurich for studying mechanisms of cytokinesis in HeLa cells. After his postdoctoral work on antigenic variation of malaria parasites at Institut Pasteur Paris he join Heidelberg University Hospital as a junior group leader in summer 2017 to investigate cell division in malaria parasites.

Julien Guizetti