Department of Biology Special Seminar: Gira Bhabha

Description

Gira Bhabha, an associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, will hold a special seminar titled "How Microsporidia Pathogens Use Ballistic Organelles to Invade Host Cells" for the Department of Biology.

Abstract:

Microsporidia, a category of emerging pathogens, are single-celled eukaryotes that infect a wide range of animal species. In humans, microsporidia infections can be life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals. To initiate infection in a host, microsporidia employ a tantalizing, unique, and very intricate harpoon-like invasion organelle, which pierces the target cell and facilitates translocation of pathogen DNA and other cellular contents into the host. The firing of this protein-based harpoon, called the Polar Tube, is violent and occurs rapidly, within roughly one second. We are using advanced imaging techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy, high-speed optical microscopy, and cryo electron-tomography, to understand how this incredible biological machine works, how it is built, and how it helps the pathogen to gain entry into host cells. The imaging techniques we optimize for studying microsporidia, from the level of atoms to cells, will also be broadly applicable to studying other emerging pathogens.