Team
Elena Levashina - Principal Investigator
Dr. Elena A. Levashina held the position of CNRS research director at the Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire in Strasbourg, France, where she led a CNRS-INSERM team: “Post genomic analysis of the mosquito immune responses to Plasmodium parasites”. The work of Elena A. Levashina and her group on the mosquito immune responses was recognised by a number of scientific awards and fellowships. From 2005 to 2010 she was selected as an International Research Scholar of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and in 2010 she was elected an EMBO member. She is a laureate of the INSERM Research Prize (2008) and of the Jaffe Prize of the French Academy of Sciences (2011). Since 2011 she is heading the Vector Biology Research Unit at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology.
The central research aim of the Vector Biology Unit is to unravel how mosquito immunity and metabolism shape malaria transmission at the molecular and evolutionary levels. By dissecting the genetic and metabolic interactions between mosquitoes and Plasmodium parasites, our goal is to identify weak spots of such interactions that could be used to disrupt malaria transmission at its source.
Dr. Giulia Costa - Staff Scientist
Originally motivated by ethics, I realised early on that what truly fascinates me about malaria research is the interplay between Plasmodium and its hosts. During my PhD in France, I investigated the cytotoxicity of human γδ T cells against blood-stage parasites. I then joined the Levashina lab as a postdoc, shifting my focus to the host vector, particularly the parasite transition steps. Since then, I have worked on the effect of mosquito lipids on parasite growth and virulence. More recently, I have studied the dependency of critical early parasite development steps on the mosquito environment. Currently, I am collaborating on a study to quantify the potency of human monoclonal antibodies that block sporozoites, with the aim of improving current malaria vaccines.
Manuela Aguirre Botero, PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
Originally from Colombia, I moved to Germany to pursue my Bachelor's in Biosciences and Master's in Molecular Biology at Heidelberg University. Fascinated by parasites, I went on to complete my PhD at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, investigating how antibodies confer protection against Plasmodium sporozoite infection. My current research focuses on using antibody-based tools to study the development of Plasmodium in mosquitoes. My interests include host-parasite interactions, vaccine development and visual approaches to understanding infection biology and transmission-blocking strategies.
Tisheng Shan, PhD - Postdoctoral Researcher
I obtained my PhD in Entomology from Oklahoma State University, where my research focused on how insects utilise extracellular protease networks to regulate immune responses against pathogens. This work clarified how these enzymes control key pathways involved in pathogen recognition and defence. In 2023, I joined the Levashina Lab as a postdoctoral researcher. My current research focuses on the mosquito complement-like immune system, which is a key barrier to malaria parasite development. Specifically, I am interested in how this immune system is activated, its influence on malaria transmission, and its evolutionary development in mosquitoes.
Dr. Pablo Suarez Cortes - Postdoctoral Researcher
As a molecular biologist, I specialise in the early stages of malaria transmission, focusing on how Plasmodium falciparum parasites infect mosquitoes. In particular, I am interested in the role of secretory organelles and cell signalling during the invasion of the insect midgut by parasites. My research combines genetic tools with imaging approaches to study these processes. Through this work, I aim to shed light on the fundamental aspects of parasite cell biology and transmission
Dr. Suzana Zakovic - Postdoctoral Researcher
I am a biologist with an MSc in Forensic Science. It was my master's research, which focused on the phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1, that sparked my interest in infection biology and bioinformatics. This passion led me to pursue a PhD with the Vector Biology group, where I could combine both interests. My research focuses on the interactions between mosquito innate immunity, the mosquito gut microbiome, and Plasmodium parasites. I particularly enjoy working with NGS sequencing data and uncovering the biological insights they reveal.
Annice Bowen - Doctoral Researcher
I have always been fascinated by biological systems, and inspired by the critical yet creative nature of mathematics. I obtained my integrated masters in Natural Sciences specialising in Mathematical Bioscience at the University of York, England. Here in the Levashina lab, I am continuing to pursue my interests as a PhD student, utilising mathematical modelling to investigate the subsequent impact of climate and the mosquito microbiome on vector population dynamics.
Marly Erazo Lugo - Doctoral Researcher
I obtained my Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Biotechnology from the Technische Universität Berlin. For my Master's thesis, I designed a simplified human gut microbial consortium to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics and prebiotics. To further pursue my interest in microbiome research, I am currently investigating how environmental factors influence the microbiome of Anopheles mosquitoes, and how these microbes subsequently impact mosquito population dynamics.
Elisa Escabia - Doctoral Researcher
My passion for medical entomology began while studying for my Bachelor's degree in Environmental and Molecular Biology at Roskilde University, where I explored the links between ecosystems and vector-borne diseases. I spent a semester on an exchange programme at the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, where I gained hands-on fieldwork experience in infectious diseases. I then pursued a Master's degree in Infection Biology at Uppsala University, conducting my thesis research on Trypanosoma cruzi at CINVESTAV in Mexico. I then continued my work on T. cruzi at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. For my PhD, I am integrating ecology, parasitology and molecular biology to improve our understanding of malaria transmission. The focus of my research is the interseasonal dynamics of malaria transmission in the Malian Sahel. To identify ecological factors influencing malaria transmission, I sample and genetically characterise mosquito populations.
Ellen Hoppenz - Doctoral Researcher
I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Biology and my Master's degree in Quantitative Molecular Biology from Humboldt University, Berlin. During my studies, I worked at the Robert Koch-Institute, where I contributed to the characterisation of a novel in vitro model for Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts, which sparked my interest in the biology of apicomplexan parasites. I joined the Vector Biology unit in 2023 to work on my Master’s thesis and subsequently stayed on to complete my PhD project, which focuses on the variability of Plasmodium falciparum strains in mosquito colonisation in laboratory and natural transmission settings.
Sophia Kahler - Doctoral Researcher
I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry from LMU Munich. For my Bachelor's thesis, I synthesised photoswitchable drugs targeting the proto-oncogene Ras at NYU in New York. I then returned to Munich to study for a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, alongside studying Philosophy. This sparked my curiosity about global health challenges, particularly those connected to complex biological systems, such as malaria. Eager to learn more about the relationship between the Plasmodium falciparum parasite and its mosquito vector, I joined the Levashina Lab to conduct my Master's and PhD research. My research focuses on how mosquito lipids influence parasite development and transmission, and on identifying candidate biological markers that may determine the parasite’s transmission capacity.
Alexander Penning - Doctoral Researcher
Before joining the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology, I studied biology at the University of Heidelberg. It was there that I first became involved in malaria research, investigating the regulation of DNA replication and cell cycle progression in Plasmodium falciparum for my master's thesis. After graduating with a Master's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, I decided to continue this fascinating work in malaria research with a PhD, which I started in 2020.
My current project investigates the role of human-derived lipids in the transmission of P. falciparum from humans to mosquitoes, employing a combination of in vitro and in vivo techniques.
This project is being conducted in collaboration with the Maier Lab at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Dr. Juliane Lippmann - Lab Management and Science Communication
I completed my PhD in 2010 as a first-generation doctoral student at the International Max Planck Research School for Immunology and Infectious Diseases (IMPRS-IDI), after which I moved to Paris to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship at the Institut Pasteur. My goals underwent a shift when my kids came into my life. To remain involved in science, I decided to pursue a career in research coordination and science communication. In my role as lab manager in the Vector Biology Research Unit and science communicator at MPIIB, I organise the Long Night of Science and tours of our insectary for children and school students. This enables me to share the knowledge and insights of our research group directly. I appreciate working on malaria research because it allows me to learn more about the development of infectious diseases and immunity, as well as the political and socioeconomic issues surrounding this devastating disease.
Daniel Eyermann - Technical Assistant
After completing vocational training at the Institute for Veterinary Physiological Chemistry at the University of Leipzig, I earned my professional degree, focusing on cell cultivation, analytical biochemistry, and experimental animal husbandry. In 2014, I joined the Vector Biology Research Unit as a lab technician. My colleagues and I maintain essential lab platforms. These include Plasmodium cell culture, animal and mosquito husbandry, and mosquito infections. We also support research activities. I have also developed expertise in flow cytometry, molecular biology, and laboratory management.
Emilia Prhal - Master Student
I am a Master's student at Humboldt University in Berlin, conducting my thesis research at the Max Planck Institute. During my Master's programme, I spent six months in Barcelona, focusing on genetics and genomics. I completed my bachelor's thesis at the Robert Koch Institute. In my thesis I analysed the influence of cholesterol-modulating drugs on the antiparasitic activity of sterol-linked drugs in Toxoplasma gondii. As part of my current work, I am generating highly fluorescent reporter lines of Plasmodium falciparum in order to shed light on mosquito-stage infections.
Technical Assistants
Manuela Andres
Laura Arguedas-Jimenez
Angela Asante
Hadenal Gordon
Cornelia Kreschel
Nadine Neitzel
Lilly Spohr
Master students
Sindhiya Dutta
Emilia Prhal
Bachelor students
Helen Rose Rahim
Student assistents
Avril Alcoreza San Martin
Claudio Estrada-Michels
Kseniia Makarchuk
Charlene Naujoks
Aimee Schneider
Alumni*ae
Dr. Robin Benter
Dr. Paola Carillo-Bustamante
Dr. Ewa Chrostek
Dr. Juan Estupinan
Dr. Markus Gildenhard
Dr. Philip Huegli
Dr. Caroline Kiuru
Dr. Lena Lampe
Dr. Galo Rivera
Dr. Evans Rono
Dr. Anna Weyrich