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Session Chair: Brian M Cooke, James Cook University
Location:Plenary Lecture Theatre 1, Uni of Auckland Engineering Complex Bldg, LT 405-470
Lecture Theatre 405-470
2024 IJP Lecturer (Sponsored by Elsevier) Dr Carmen Faso University of Bern, Switzerland
Presentations
Protein trafficking in Giardia lamblia: Eccentric cell biology in a eukaryote with reduced complexity
Carmen Faso
Institute of Cell Biology, Institute for Infectious Diseases, Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases-University of Bern, Switzerland
The species Giardia lamblia (syn. intestinalis, duodenalis) is a fascinating example of evolution by reduction. Its limited number and types of endomembrane compartments and corresponding molecular machinery, make it an excellent model system to investigate protein trafficking pathways in the absence of eukaryotic hallmark organelles such as the Golgi and bona fide endosomes and mitochondria. In my presentation, I shall attempt to take the audience on a journey through Giardia’s eccentric exocytic and endocytic organelles and associated molecular complements, with a strong focus on this parasite’s unique feeding organelles and their possible role as bidirectional protein trafficking hubs. Furthermore, I shall highlight how investigating Giardia’s unique cell biology, despite challenges in genetic tractability for this species, has opened up truly fascinating windows on the diversity of eukaryotic protein trafficking pathways, while also providing important puzzle pieces to the evolutionary history of well-characterized but not well-conserved trafficking machineries.
