Markus Meissner

Prof. Dr. Markus Meissner is a Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, leading the Chair of Experimental Parasitology. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of host cell invasion and modulation by Apicomplexan parasites, particularly Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species.

• Research Group: Meissner Laboratory
• Location: Lena-Christ-Str. 48, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried
• Contact: markus.meissner@lmu.de

His work investigates the secretory pathway of parasites, vesicular trafficking systems, and essential genes involved in host cell invasion and intracellular development. Toxoplasma gondii serves as a model organism for studying Apicomplexan biology, including nuclear division and CRMP complex functionality.

Recent publications highlight the role of Rab GTPases in protein trafficking, chromatin remodeling in Plasmodium, and actin dynamics in parasite motility. Articles span topics such as egress factors, Golgi pathways, and lineage-specific organelle emergence, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, cell biology, and evolutionary analysis.

The Meissner Lab includes PhD students (Peipei Qin, Yuan Song, Ella Schadt, Vitoria Catschor dos Santos) and postdocs (Dr. Wei Li, Dr. Miriam Rafajlovic). Research is conducted in Lena-Christ-Str. 48, Planegg-Martinsried, with a focus on experimental systems for studying parasite mechanisms.