Guest seminar – Understanding Host-Parasite interactions: Genetic and immunological insights into Toxoplasma-host coevolution

Presenter – Dr. Musa Hassan is currently a Wellcome Trust funded fellow at the University of Glasgow. His research uses methods in genetics,

genomics, immunology and computational biology to elucidate the mechanisms that underlie susceptibility to infectious diseases. Currently, his work focuses on susceptibility to Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite that infects virtually all warm-blooded animals. He will present ongoing work on Toxoplasma-host coevolution and genomics and immunological studies on the interaction of intracellular pathogens with their mammalian hosts.

Following the seminar, Dr. Hassan is keen to meet with anybody working on host-parasite interactions, to establish greater links with ILRI scientists under the auspices of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH). In particular he is interested in ongoing research on Theileria (infections as well as epidemiology).