Welcome to the Alsford lab web site…

…where you can find out about our research on the kinetoplastid parasites, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania. Work in the lab
focuses on two aspects of kinetoplastid biology. How these parasites interact with their host environment, especially the uptake and
sub-cellular transit of host- and parasite-derived molecules, including nutrients, drugs and innate immune factors. We also have a
longstanding interest in the regulation of RNA polymerase-I transcription, specifically the intersection between rRNA and VSG
transcription in T. brucei.

Recent research highlights…

Using our T. brucei RNAi in collaboration with Prof Gloria Rudenko’s team at Imperial College we identified TbSAP, a protein with
a role in metacyclic VSG expression regulation (see Nucleic Acids Research).

Selection of our T. brucei RNAi library in the anti-leishmanial drugs identified 42 novel drug efficacy determinants, all of which have
orthologues in Leishmania, including several proteins involved in membrane trafficking and organisation (see Antimicrobial Agents &
Chemotherapy). 

If you’re interested in using the bloodstream-form T. brucei RNAi library in your research, or adapting the RIT-seq approach to
your preferred organism, extensive detailed protocols are available at Nature Protocols.

Explore our other pages…

…to find details of our cell lines & plasmids (all freely available to the research community on request), protocols and publications.

There are also extensive links to other online resources and Trypanosomatid research groups based in the UK and beyond. If your lab
is missing from this list (apologies!) or the link is out of date, drop me an email, and I’ll be sure to update the list.

Check out our Blog for occasional postings on publications, research, conferences, and public engagement activities.

|  T: 020 7927 2699(lab) 020 7927 2352(office)  |  Lab333, LSHTM, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT.

|  Department of Infection Biology  |  Infectious & Tropical Diseases  |  LSHTM