Our lab investigates mechanisms of immunity to vaginal trichomonad parasites. We use molecular and cell biology approaches to determine the surface and subcellular players in neutrophil trogocytosis (trogo= to nibble) of Trichomonas vaginalis, the causative agent of the 3rd most prevalent STI in the US, and a neglected infection. Our work is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and The CSU Agricultural Research Institute. Students are trained in methods such as leukocyte and parasite culture, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Please contact me @ fkmercer@cpp.edu if you are interested in hearing more about our research or student opportunities in the lab.
