Staff Profile

I completed my PhD studies under the supervision of Professor Robert Hirt looking into the Parasite-Microbiota interactions of Trichomonas symbionts. My work focused on utilising comparative genomics and transcriptomics to gain a deeper understanding of the conserved molecular tools that Trichomonas spp. possess, which facilitate their interactions with the mucosal microbiota. By applying molecular and microbiological methods, I aimed to uncover the specific interactions these molecular tools enable and how they contribute to Trichomonas' adaptation to and survival within the mucosal environment. Consequently, I unveiled new interaction phenotypes and identified conserved molecular tools that could play a key role in facilitating the zoonotic transmission of Trichomonas symbionts. These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of Trichomonas interactions with the microbiota and their potential for cross-species transmission.

Research Assistant working in the Banzhaf Lab as a Systems Microbiologist.

• Article

  • Mpeyako LA, Hart AJ, Bailey NP, Carlton JM, Henrissat B, Sullivan SA, Hirt RP. Comparative genomics between Trichomonas tenax and Trichomonas vaginalis: CAZymes and candidate virulence factors. Frontiers in Microbiology 2024, 15, 1437572.