Lesly Temesvari

Alumni Distinguished Professor

 

Email:  ltemesv@clemson.edu

 

Education:

Ph.D., Biology, University of Windsor, 1993

B.Sc., Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, 1987

 

The overall goal of the research in Dr. Temesvari's laboratory is to understand the pathogenesis of the human protozoan parasite, Entamoeba histolytica. This is the causative agent of amoebic dysentery and amoebic liver abscess; up to 50,000,000 people world-wide are infected annually. Secretion, phagocytosis, and parasite-host interactions are important virulence functions of E. histolytica. Thus, using state-of-art molecular, biochemical, genetic and cellular techniques, the Temesvari laboratory seeks to understand the virulence functions by studying (i) four Rab GTPases (master regulators of vesicle trafficking), (ii) several components of the PI 3-kinase signaling pathway, and (iii) lipid rafts. Insight gained through these studies may lead to rational design of novel anti-Entamoeba agents.