fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I am so excited to share that, starting January 2027, I will join the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor! 340
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Shared again the most amazing time with WACCBIP students at the Molecular and Cell Biology Workshop! #WACCBIP #UniversityofGhana 010
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialParasitesRule @parasitesrule.org · 28/05/2026Registration & abstract submission are open for the 37th Molecular Parasitology Meeting (MPM XXXVII) 🧫 @MJGubbels @Deepali_Ravel @omartheharb Sept 13–17, 2026 | Woods Hole, MA + virtual Abstract deadline: June 19 @rmc9z.bsky.social @mjgubbels.bsky.social @omarharb.org parasitesrule.com/mpm-xxxvii 045
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialSebastian Shaw @millseba.bsky.social · 13/05/2026Excited to share our new paper, co-led by Gracyn Buenconsejo and me. Why did a promising anti-#Cryptosporidium drug fail? We asked whether the parasite itself might already be genetically prepared to escape treatment. doi.org/10.1038/s415... #Clofazimine #forwardgeneticsdoi.orgGenomic heterogeneity of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase predisposes Cryptosporidium to clofazimine resistance - Nature MicrobiologyForward and reverse genetics identifies the mode of action of clofazimine in the parasite Cryptosporidium. The genomic locus encoding the target is heterogeneous, and a resistance-conferring allele is... 242
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialThe EMBO Journal @embojournal.org · 18/03/2026Mechanistic insights into coordinated var transcriptional switching in malaria parasites @kirkdeitsch.bsky.social and coworkers link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comMechanistic insights into coordinated var transcriptional switching in malaria parasites - The EMBO JournalThe exceptional virulence of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is attributed to the adhesive properties of infected red blood cells and the parasite’s ability to avoid antibody recogn... 032
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 18/03/2026🚨New paper out 🚨 Excited to see this work from Joe Visone and me published! We dissect the molecular mechanisms behind var2csa transcription and translation. Take a look👇 link.springer.com/article/10.1...link.springer.comMechanistic insights into coordinated var transcriptional switching in malaria parasites - The EMBO JournalThe exceptional virulence of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is attributed to the adhesive properties of infected red blood cells and the parasite’s ability to avoid antibody recogn... 162
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 19/02/2026If you are searching for a postdoc position or know someone who does, cannot recommend this position enough! 030
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialSebastian Shaw @millseba.bsky.social · 11/02/2026Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science! Let’s continue to support and celebrate them, and fight for equal opportunities for women in STEM! Shout-out to @shubhabevkal.bsky.social and @fra-florini.bsky.social! You’re the best! #WomenInScience #WomenInSTEM 071
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialAkshay Vishwanatha @akshayv.bsky.social · 26/11/2025Publication alert! 🔔 Our recent work exploring how Plasmodium uses a Rad51 independent homologous recombination to diversify its var gene repertoire is now published in 🧬 Nucleic Acids Research! @oupprimary.bsky.social @narjournal.bsky.social Read more here. tinyurl.com/794brb6htinyurl.comValidate User 064
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialShubha Bevkal @shubhabevkal.bsky.social · 26/11/2025New paper out ! Want to learn more about fascinating proteasome biology and Artemisinin resistance in Malaria parasites ? Check out our preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...biorxiv.orgStage-specific regulation of the Plasmodium falciparum proteasome activity reveals adaptive rewiring in artemisinin resistanceThe ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is essential for Plasmodium falciparum to maintain protein homeostasis, adapt to proteotoxic stress, and regulate parasite growth and stage transitions. The prote... 052
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialSebastian Shaw @millseba.bsky.social · 08/10/2025Our latest story on Clofazimine resistance in Cryptosporidium! What started as a side project turned into one of the most interesting stories. Genetics 101 😊 #Cryptosporidium #Apicomplexa #Clofazimine #AntimicrobialResistance #AMR #ParasiteResearch www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...biorxiv.orgWidespread genomic heterogeneity at the type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenase locus predisposes Cryptosporidium to clofazimine resistanceThe parasite Cryptosporidium is a leading cause of life-threatening diarrheal disease, and effective treatment is not available. The discovery of potent anti-Cryptosporidium activity of clofazimine, o... 162
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialSebastian Shaw @millseba.bsky.social · 18/09/2025🚨 New paper out! 🚨 🧬 Parasite sex as a discovery tool — new insights into Cryptosporidium virulence! Huge thanks to my co-authors, collaborators & mentors 🙌 #Parasites #Cryptosporidium #Genetics #InfectiousDiseases #ForwardGenetics www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comGenetic crosses reveal genomic loci responsible for virulence in Cryptosporidium parvum infectionThe relationship between parasite genotype and pathogenesis is largely unknown for Cryptosporidium, a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children. … 042
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialUniversity of Glasgow School of Infection & Immunity @uofgsii.bsky.social · 28/07/2025🎥 | WATCH | Dr Francesca Florini (@fra-florini.bsky.social | @weillcornell.bsky.social) discusses the immune evasion in malaria using insights from single-cell analysis of Plasmodium falciparum. The full GRiP-ing seminar is now available on our YouTube channel: 📺 youtu.be/bKU2Cfv79K8?... 024
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 19/07/2025Had such a wholesome experience this past week, helping with the One Health Research workshop at WACCBIP. So much passion and engagement from the students! 020
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Preprint Alert 🚨 Check out the latest piece of work from the @kirkdeitsch.bsky.social lab, where we characterized the sophisticated molecular layers controlling var2csa expression and antigenic variation in P. falciparum 052
Reposted by @fra-florini.bsky.socialNature Microbiology @natmicrobiol.nature.com · 20/05/2025🚨Out now! scRNA-seq reveals transcriptional plasticity of var gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum for host immune avoidance by @fra-florini.bsky.social @kirkdeitsch.bsky.social #MicroSky #Plasmodium 🦠🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...nature.comscRNA-seq reveals transcriptional plasticity of var gene expression in Plasmodium falciparum for host immune avoidance - Nature MicrobiologySingle-cell transcriptomics revealed that malaria parasites have unexpected flexibility in surface antigen expression, potentially providing parasites with greater adaptive capacity to maintain chroni... 073
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 19/05/2025So proud of this work finally out in @natmicrobiol.nature.com! We examined antigenic variation in malaria parasites at single-cell level and found a surprising level of diversity. Make sure to check it out and don’t miss my talk on Thursday to hear about this story! #malaria #scRNA-Seq #EMBLMalaria 1276
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Something fun (very much needed these days): the @kirkdeitsch.bsky.social and Kirkman labs crushing the CUIMC Team Relay Marathon! 010
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 28/03/2025There’s a new doctor in the @kirkdeitsch.bsky.social lab and we couldn’t be prouder! 020
fra-florini.bsky.social @fra-florini.bsky.social · 15/11/2024What an awesome opportunity it was to present my work today at #EMBLInfectionBiology and connect with so many amazing scientists studying #infectionbiology! Great thanks to the organizers for giving me this chance 040
