Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford

Erythrocyte invasion in malaria: from molecular mechanisms to rational vaccines Nature Reviews Microbiology - If erythrocyte invasion is blocked during the blood stage of infection by Plasmodium parasites, malaria can be prevented. In this Review, structural insights on...

Delighted to share our review on how those malaria parasites get into our blood cells and how we might stop them.
rdcu.be/eGnUl

@oxforddpag.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk @kavlifoundation.org #KavliOxford

Mootaz Salman Awarded the Bayliss-Starling Prize Lecture 2025 by The Physiological Society

Congratulations to Mootaz Salman on receiving the Bayliss–Starling Prize Lecture 2025 from The Physiological Society!

Read more 👉 kavli.web.ox.ac.uk/article/moot...

@somervillecollege.bsky.social @oxfordbiochemistry.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk @kavlifoundation.org @ox.ac.uk #Neuroscience
#CellAdhesion #DPhilLife
#BrainDevelopment
#StructuralBiology
#WomenInSTEM

By combining in vitro, in cellulo, and in vivoapproaches within the MIGRATE collaboration (migrate.web.ox.ac.uk/home), she hopes to contribute to our understanding of how the brain builds a regulated and interconnected network.

Amy’s work focuses on the structure and function of cell adhesion molecules involved in brain development. She aims to link molecular structure to biological function and physiological roles.

#MeetTheResearcher
We’re pleased to introduce Amy Roberts this week from the Seiradake Group. Amy is a #DPhil candidate currently in her second year of study. Her research is generously supported by the Margaret Pelly-Carys Bannister Scholarship from Somerville College.

#KavliOxford's August publications are now out!

lnkd.in/eC4tq9Te

@oxfordbiochemistry.bsky.social @kavlifoundation.org @ox.ac.uk @medsci.ox.ac.uk

By understanding how to target PCFT over RFC transporter will help to reduce the toxicity associated with anticancer drug treatment, an impediment to the existing chemotherapy.

#StructuralBiology, #cryoEM, #DrugTransport, #ProstaglandinUptake, #FolateUptake, #CancerTherapy, #AntiInflammatoryDrug

However, cancer cells (specifically solid tumours) take up the folate nutrient via proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) which has an acidic pH optimum.

The main cause of cell toxicity is the uptake of the chemotherapy drugs such as antifolates into healthy tissues via a folate transporter; Reduced Folate carrier (RFC) which works at the neutral pH.

In another project focussed on human proton-coupled folate (PCFT; SLC46A1) membrane transporter, Chitra is delineating structures of PCFT with a novel antifolate library which will prove instrumental for structure-based drug designing.

The molecular basis of transporter function will help to develop novel strategies to overcome the drug-resistance and enhance the clinical applications.

In their recent paper (under revision), they report essential mechanistic details of substrate selection for PGs uptake transporter SLCO2A1(SLC21A2) through its cryo-EM structures bound to endogenous PGs and four widely prescribed medications for treating inflammation, chronic asthma & Parkinson’s.

However, membrane transporter plays a critical role in regulating the biological actions of PGs in diverse tissues, including the lungs, liver, kidney, and female reproductive tissues.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are hormone-like lipid compounds involved in inflammation, pain and fever. The wide range of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) available to treat inflammation and pain, target prostaglandin synthase enzyme.

Chitra joined the group in 2022 as a postdoctoral researcher funded by Wellcome Trust. Her research projects focus on the structural characterization of human solute carriers (SLCs) particularly SLCO2A1 (SLC21A2; prostaglandin uptake) and SLC46A1 (PCFT; proton-coupled folate transporter).

#MeetTheResearcher
Happy to introduce Chitra Joshi this week! Chitra is a postdoc researcher in the Newstead Group working on the structural basis of metabolite and drug transport through solute carrier proteins (SLCs) in humans.

#StemCellResearch
#Neuroscience
#Organoids
#CRISPR
#WomenInSTEM
#KavliOxford
@ndcnoxford.bsky.social
@medsci.ox.ac.uk

Animal models do not fully replicate human cerebellar development. To address this, she is comparing protocols for generating cerebellar organoids and working on the development of CRISPR-based reporter lines to track specific cell populations throughout cerebellar maturation.

Due to its prolonged development—it is not fully mature at birth and continues developing until around two years of age—the cerebellum remains one of the most challenging brain regions to study.

The cerebellum is primarily associated with motor coordination, motor learning, balance and posture, but it has also been increasingly linked to cognitive and emotional processing.

Her research focuses on the use of in vitro models—specifically cerebellar organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells—to study the development of the human cerebellum.

#MeetTheResearcher

Introducing Tamiris Borges da Silva this week from the Becker Lab. Tamiris is a postdoctoral researcher developing induced human pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models and reporter lines to study human cerebellar development.

#Alzheimers #Biomarkers #Neurodegeneration #Metabolism #CarlyleLab @medsci.ox.ac.uk @oxforddpag.bsky.social

Immunoassay for pyruvate kinase M1/2 as an Alzheimer’s biomarker in CSF Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles in the brain, but these markers alone do not predict disease progression. The intersection of these pathologies with o...

#TuesdayReads:
Becky Carlyle et al develop and validate an ELISA to measure PKM in cerebrospinal fluid—linking elevated levels to accelerated cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s and highlighting PKM as a potential early biomarker.
🔗 www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...

Cryo-EM led analysis of open and closed conformations of Chagas vaccine candidate TcPOP - Nature Communications Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, lacks an effective vaccine. Here, the authors report the cryo-EM structure of TcPOP, a potential vaccine antigen, in open and closed states and validate it...

#TuesdayReads:
Struwe Group et al reveal the structure of a key Trypanosoma cruzi enzyme, TcPOP, and show its potential as a Chagas disease vaccine target through invasion-blocking immune responses.
🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#ChagasDisease #VaccineResearch #CryoEM #ParasiteBiology

Desert Island Discs - Professor Dame Carol Robinson, scientist - BBC Sounds Dame Carol Robinson, scientist, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.

Carol Robinson on Desert Island Discs - have a listen friends: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
An inspirational scientist & friend. An example of combining scientific excellence, courage, hard work and really importantly; kindness. (Yes I’m biased, but it’s true nevertheless)
@kavlioxford.bsky.social

@oxfordbiochemistry.bsky.social @medsci.ox.ac.uk @ox.ac.uk @kavlifoundation.org