The malaria parasite's secret weapon: Determining the role of microsatellites in gene function
The malaria parasite's secret weapon: Determining the role of microsatellites in gene function
Name of applicant
Emma Filtenborg Hocke
Title
PhD
Institution
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Amount
DKK 2,662,218
Year
2026
Type of grant
Internationalisation Fellowships
What?
Repetitive DNA sequences, named microsatellites, are present in all organisms. Microsatellites have traditionally been dismissed as unimportant, but what if these sequences are actually hidden control switches for genes? Studying the malaria parasite, my initial research has uncovered that these microsatellites might have a crucial impact on how the parasite maintains its genes.
Why?
The malaria parasite is a master of evolution – it changes its genes faster than we can fight it. Cracking the code on its adaptability likely lies in overlooked areas of the genome – particularly microsatellites. Understanding how it evolves and changes its genes gives us essential insights into how evolution works in action, as well as a better-equipped toolbox for eradication.
How?
To study this, I will join two research teams at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. These teams are leading experts in state of the state-of-the-art methods in gene editing, gene expression and bioinformatics. This will allow us to definitively answer the question: are microsatellites unimportant, or are they the parasite’s secret weapon to modulate its genes?