Methods of research
In our laboratory,
we use methods of molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, and immunohistology as well as cell culture techniques to investigate the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. It is the overall goal of our research to determine the function of selected proteins within the parasite life-cycle in order to characterize these as potential targets for vaccines and antimalarials.
Methods
The following techniques are among the methods carried out in our laboratories:
- Reverse genetics, including the generation of gene knockout and gene knockdown mutants of the malaria pathogen P. falciparum
- Transcriptome analysis using RNA-Seq and real-time reverse transcriptase PCR
- Protein-protein as well as protein-RNA and protein-DNA interaction studies, e.g. immunoprecipitation, affinity chromatography, ChIP and RIP-ChIP, RIP- and CLIP-Seq
- Recombinant expression of proteins in bacteria, yeasts and eukaryotic cells
- Biochemical methods such as SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and Dot blotting
- Microscopic analyses, e.g. immunofluorescence assays, confocal laser scanning microscopy, electron microscopy
- Drug screening and cell-based assays