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Joanna Young is an MRC Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, specializing in the interaction between pathogens and hosts, particularly focusing on the immune response during infection. Her doctoral research investigated pathogenic bacteria and their ability to disrupt host cell signaling to prevent phagocytosis. In her postdoctoral work, she has transitioned into parasitology, notably studying Toxoplasma gondii, which is renowned for its capability to manipulate host environments for survival. Her research is centered on understanding how Toxoplasma produces secreted proteins that facilitate its invasion of host cells and the formation of chronic cysts within the host nervous system. This aspect of Toxoplasma biology is crucial, as around one-third of the human population harbors this parasite, often resulting in serious health implications for immunocompromised individuals. Through high-throughput techniques and innovative approaches like CRISPR screening, her lab aims to uncover the mechanisms by which Toxoplasma maintains chronic infections and to identify potential vulnerabilities in this stage of the parasitic life cycle.
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