Description
Title: "Molecular mechanisms controlling proliferation and development of Cryptosporidium parvum ”
Speaker: 
Maryse Lebrun, PhD
Director of Research, CNRS, University of Montpellier, France
Abstract:
My laboratory studies the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum, a leading cause of
diarrhea in young children and neonatal calves. Currently, there is no effective drug or vaccine
available to treat or prevent cryptosporidiosis. We use a combination of CRISPR/Cas9 genomic
editing and cellular biology approaches along with animal models of infection to uncover the
fascinating biology of C. parvum, and reveal new targets for the development of anti-
cryptosporidial therapies. Specifically, we are interested in understanding the underlying
molecular signaling mechanisms that orchestrate transition through multiple developmental
stages for completion of the parasite's complex life cycle. We are investigating the mechanistic
role of signaling kinases that specifically control asexual and sexual stage development, relevant
to parasite proliferation and transmission.
Bio:
Dr. Vinayak’s research over the years has focused on the genetics and molecular biology of three
protozoan parasites-Cryptosporidium parvum, Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum
She received her Ph.D in molecular parasitology from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
New Delhi, India. Her Ph.D research was focused on characterizing genes in the non-mevalonate
pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis that operates in the apicoplast of P. falciparum. After
graduate school, Dr. Vinayak joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a
postdoctoral fellow where her research was focused on understanding the origins and evolution
of antimalarial drug resistance in P. falciparum (Vinayak et al 2010, PLoS Path.; Vinayak et al
2010, J Infect. Dis.). After that, she conducted research at the Center for Tropical & Emerging
Global Diseases, University of Georgia in the laboratory of Dr. Boris Striepen (now at UPenn). At
UGA, she developed a large-insert fosmid library that covers 95% of the T. gondii genes, and
established a robust recombineering method for functional genetics in T. gondii (Vinayak et al
2014, mBio). Dr. Vinayak’s recent groundbreaking research has been the powerful system she
has developed to genetically manipulate the diarrheal parasite C. parvum (Vinayak et al 2015,
Nature). Leveraging on the molecular genetics for C. parvum, she developed a robust in vivo
mouse model for testing the efficacy of anti-cryptosporidial compounds (Manjunatha, Vinayak
et al 2017 Nature). Dr. Vinayak has presented her research work at various scientific meetings
and have been the recipient of the ASTMH Young Investigator Award (2009), Scientific
Excellence award by the American Committee of Molecular, Cellular and Immunoparasitology
(ACMCIP) (2015), and the best talk award at the International Congress on Toxoplasmosis
(2015). While at UGA, Dr. Vinayak received a Grand Challenges Exploration grant from the Bill
and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Date: Monday, March 13, 2023
Time: 12-1 pm
Location: Hill 132 or Virtually Via Zoom
Questions? Please contact Michael Black if you have questions.