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Hermosilla, Carlos

Hermosilla, Carlos

Expertise: The lab of Carlos Hermosilla and Anja Taubert investigates both diverse aspects of parasite / host cell interactions in obligate intracellular protozoa (coccidia) and the non-adaptive immune reactions of the host against such parasites. Their previous research shows that coccidia interfere with the regulation mechanisms of host cells in very diverse ways, and, in order to secure their intracellular survival and reproduction, for example, they specifically and significantly modify the host cell’s cytoskeleton, its ability to undergo apoptosis, and its cholesterol and energy metabolism. Moreover, the essential role of the novel effector mechanism of leukocytes, the formation of an extracellular trap (ET), was demonstrated for the first time and characterized at the molecular level. Some of the established techniques include cultures of various apicomplexan parasites, isolation and culture techniques for primary cells, real-time PCR, long-term cultures, time-lapse experiments, and parallel flow chamber assays.