The research lab of Gustavo A. Arrizabalaga, PhD, focuses on various aspects of the cellular and molecular biology of the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasma is an obligate intracellular parasite capable of infecting virtually any nucleated cell from a wide range of mammalian and avian species. Toxoplasma is one of the most widespread and successful protozoan parasites thought to infect a third of the world population. Toxoplasma’s propagation and pathogenesis depends on the coordinated regulation of the parasite’s motility machinery, physiology and secretory apparatus as well as in the ability of the parasite to adapt to environmental and physiological changes.