Hymlaire Lamisere

Cryptosporidium causes diarrheal disease in young children and immunocompromised hosts in resource-limited settings worldwide. There is no effective treatment for cryptosporidiosis in these vulnerable populations. My project explores the mechanisms by which the parasite evades innate immune responses in intestinal epithelial cells by inducing or inhibiting apoptosis, a non-inflammatory mode of programed cell death. I am studying these mechanisms using 2D and 3D stem-cell-based human intestinal enteroid-derived models. I will identify the key proteins involved and confirm their importance. My long-term goal is to develop novel interventions for cryptosporidiosis.