معرفی
Artur Scherf is a Head of Structure and Principal Investigator at the Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions (BIHP) unit, part of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. His research is central to the unit's mission of translating basic science into new intervention strategies against malaria parasites. He leads multiple research projects focused on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of malaria pathogenesis.
Research Interests: Dr. Scherf's primary research interests lie in the molecular biology of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest human malaria parasite. His work is pivotal in understanding antigenic variation, a key immune evasion strategy, and the role of epigenetic regulation and nuclear architecture in controlling virulence gene expression. His lab investigates how epigenetic factors like histone methylation govern the parasite's ability to vary its surface proteins and progress through its life cycle. He utilizes both human P. falciparum and the rodent P. berghei model to study host-parasite interactions and pathogenesis, with a particular focus on identifying novel targets for antimalarial drugs.
Research Trends from Publications: An analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent and deep focus on the epigenetic and transcriptional control of malaria parasites. His work bridges fundamental molecular biology with drug discovery, investigating how compounds that inhibit epigenetic enzymes (like histone methyltransferases) can kill the parasite and potentially target dormant liver stages (hypnozoites). A significant trend is the exploration of non-coding RNAs and protein complexes (like cohesin) in regulating the parasite's gene expression and virulence.
Scientific Awards:
- No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text.
Advising and Grants:
- Advising: The text does not list any specific students or advisees.
- Grants and Projects: Dr. Scherf is the Principal Investigator (PI) for several ongoing projects at the Institut Pasteur, including:
- Targeting epigenetic factors for new intervention strategies
- Nuclear biology and the identification of novel chromatin factors
- Molecular mechanism of antigenic variation of P. falciparum
- Identification of parasite co-factors critical for adhesion
- P. berghei, a rodent malaria model
- From basic research to new intervention strategies
Labs and Teams: Dr. Scherf leads his research within the Biology of Host-Parasite Interactions (BIHP) unit at the Institut Pasteur. This is a collaborative environment where his work contributes to a larger effort on malaria and other parasitic diseases. He has established significant collaborations with other researchers, such as Prof. Mazier (UPMC/INSERM) for work on liver stages and Matt Fuchter (Imperial College London) for medicinal chemistry.
