R. Bartfai

The Plasmodium falciparum histone methyltransferase PfSET10 is dispensable for the regulation of antigenic variation and gene expression in blood stage parasites

This study shows that PfSET10 is not required for var gene expression, antigenic variation, or blood stage parasite survival.

Modulation of host signalling pathways reveal a major role for Wnt signalling in the maturation of Plasmodium falciparum liver schizonts

The paper identifies Wnt signaling as critical for Plasmodium falciparum liver schizont maturation by using a novel medium to maintain hepatocyte functionality and analyze host-parasite interactions.

A system for functional studies of the major virulence factor of malaria parasites

The paper develops a system to study PfEMP1, a key malaria parasite virulence factor, by generating parasites expressing a single PfEMP1 variant and enabling genome edits to investigate its function.

Replication origin mapping in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

This study maps replication origins in Plasmodium falciparum using DNAscent technology, finding that origin activation is less dense and preferentially occurs in low transcriptional activity regions.

Gene-by-gene screen of the unknown proteins encoded on P. falciparum chromosome 3

This study performs a gene-by-gene screen of non-secretory proteins on P. falciparum chromosome 3 to identify their cellular location, essentiality, and function, revealing key parasite-specific processes.

An unusual trafficking domain in MSRP6 defines a complex needed for Maurer's clefts anchoring and maintenance in P. falciparum infected red blood cells

The paper identifies a novel domain in MSRP6 that mediates Maurer's clefts anchoring and maintenance in P. falciparum, but shows these functions are dispensable for PfEMP1 transport and cytoadherence.

The ApiAP2 factor PfAP2-HC is an integral component of heterochromatin in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

The paper identifies PfAP2-HC as a heterochromatin component in Plasmodium falciparum, showing it binds heterochromatin without DNA-binding and is dependent on heterochromatin protein 1.