The Institute of Cell Biology performs cutting-edge research in molecular and cell biology to study a wide variety of topics that include Host Pathogen Interactions, Systems Biology, Epigenetics, Organelle Biogenesis and Developmental processes.
October 13, 2025
11:15 − 12:15
ICB Room C161, Baltzerstrasse 4, 3012 Bern
Dr. Michael Rera | Unité de Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative, Paris
Invited by Prof. Dr. Benjamin Towbin
PLOS Pathogens
The eukaryotic parasite relies on the faithful inheritance of its singular mitochondrial genome, known as kinetoplast DNA (kDNA), to survive and proliferate. This genome is physically tethered to the flagellar basal body by the Tripartite Attachment Complex (TAC), a unique cytoskeleton-organelle connection. Here, Dr. Clirim Jetishi and colleagues use proteomics, RNAi, and ultrastructure expansion microscopy to identify TAC53 as a novel and essential TAC component.
PLOS ONE
The latest study from the Malaria Lab focuses on developing the next generation of malaria vaccines using genetically attenuated parasites (GAPs). By deleting two crucial genes for Plasmodium liver stage development, we demonstrate that our PbHscB-PbMei2 double-knockout (2-KO) parasite line results in a complete developmental arrest at this critical stage. This groudbreaking discovery paves the way for future vaccine designs targeting the Plasmodium liver stage, thereby preventing the symptomatic blood phase of malaria.
Melanie Schmid*, Raphael Beyeler*, Reto Caldelari, Ruth Rehmann, Volker Heussler and Magali Roques
Gluenz Lab
In a new study published in Science, the Gluenz lab investigated motility mechanisms of Leishmania parasites. The Brown lab at Harvard mapped the structure of the Leishmania axonemal microtubule doublets by cryo-EM and Sophia Fochler and former Gluenz lab members Tom Beneke and James Smith used CRISPR gene editing to manipulate individual building blocks from this structure to identify proteins that are crucial for movement.
Matthew H. Doran et al. Science 387, eadr5507(2025). DOI:10.1126/science.adr5507
Baltzerstrasse 4 3012 Bern
