Report of Marta Bogacz

Research Exchange in Baltimore: Exploring TRPML Channels in Parasites and Hosts

In 2023 I was a recipient of the ‘Scientist Exchange Fund’ from the Cluster of Excellence ‘Balance of the Microverse’. The Fund allowed me to travel to Baltimore, Maryland, USA, where I spend six weeks working in the group of Prof. Iqbal Hamza at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. My stay was a part of a new collaboration between the Biostructural Interactions group of Prof. Ute Hellmich, where I work as a PostDoc, and the group of Prof. Hamza.

The project is part of our investigation of Transient Potential Receptor (TRP) channels, in particular the human TRPML channels and their homologs in the single-cellular parasites from the genus Trypanosoma and Leishmania. The channels are part of the parasite’s toolkit to acquire iron which is necessary for survival within the human host, however their function remains poorly understood. On the other hand, TRPML channels are necessary for maintaining lysosome function of the mammalian host cell, therefore playing putative role in host-parasite interaction. The group of Prof. Hamza specializes in the study of heme and iron transport in mammals and Leishmaniae spp..

During my time in Baltimore I learned the methods of Leishmania donovani cultivation and differentiation. I generated constructs for overexpression and deletion of various TRPML homologs. I performed transfections of human and L. donovani cells with the constructs I generated and I isolated putative transgenic parasites. Thanks to the exchange I was able to expand my project to include L. donovani, an intracellular parasite causing visceral leishmaniasis leading to approx. 50 000 deaths each year, globally. We can now follow new research directions and combine our expertise on TRP channel biochemistry with the study of the role of TRPML homologs in a model organism and an extracellular pathogen T. brucei, as well as in an intracellular parasite L. donovani to explore the host/pathogen interface from a completely new perspective.

Thanks to the program I was able to learn new techniques and experience the exciting research culture in Baltimore. The whole stay was very memorable. I got to experience American Thanksgiving, to explore Baltimore, Washington DC, and to even squeeze in a trip to New York City. Overall it was a great experience and an amazing opportunity.