ABSTRACT
First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Journal of Cell Science, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Manuela Blasco Pedreros is first author on ‘ Role of a novel uropod-like cell membrane protrusion in the pathogenesis of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis’, published in JCS. Manuela is a PhD student in the Anaerobic Parasites Laboratory (LPA) in Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she investigates the cellular biology of the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis.
Manuela Blasco Pedreros
How would you explain the main findings of your paper in lay terms?
Trichomonas vaginalis is a microscopic parasite that causes trichomoniasis, a very common sexually transmitted disease in humans. This parasite lives outside of cells but needs to adhere to them to cause an infection. When a parasite sticks to a cell, it changes from ‘pear-shaped’ to a more extended shape, which helps it move better. In our study, we observed that different types of T. vaginalis develop protrusions at the back of the parasite, similar to structures called ‘uropods’, which are known to help other cells make adhesions. We discovered that a protein called TvTSP5 is key to forming these protrusions. When there is more of this protein, the parasite is better at forming these protrusions, allowing it to adhere more firmly to host cells, cluster with other parasites and move less. These findings help us better understand how T. vaginalis interacts with host cells to cause infection.
Were there any specific challenges associated with this project? If so, how did you overcome them?
One of the most important challenges of this study was understanding the biological significance of the uropod-like structure in the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. Answering seemingly simple questions, such as ‘What evolutionary advantage does the parasite gain from forming this structure?’, proved to be quite difficult. However, we were able to answer some of these questions through different assays, such as infection of host cells and motility experiments on agar plates as well as observations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
When doing the research, did you have a particular result or ‘eureka’ moment that has stuck with you?
We have been working for some time now on optimizing a migration assay on agar plates for T. vaginalis. The first time I performed this assay with transfected parasites, I clearly observed that overexpression of TvTSP5 decreased migration in both strains of T. vaginalis that we studied. This confirmed that the idea of the uropod-like protrusion functioning like an anchor was not just a possibility, but a fact!
Control parasites (TvEpNEO) are shown in the upper panel and parasites overexpressing TvTSP5 are in the lower panel. TvTSP5 overexpression causes formation of a large uropod-like protrusion at the posterior pole (orange arrowheads) attached to the host cell.
Why did you choose Journal of Cell Science for your paper?
Journal of Cell Science is a high-quality and well-established journal in the field of cell biology. We are passionate about this area of study, and when we saw the announcement about a Special Issue on Imaging Cell Architecture and Dynamics in JCS, we immediately decided that our work should be submitted there. We aimed to share our findings with the scientific community and allow them to observe the fascinating dynamics of our model system.
What motivated you to pursue a career in science, and what have been the most interesting moments on the path that led you to where you are now?
My motivation to enter the world of science began in my pre-adolescence. During my time at school we took a trip to visit the laboratory of the hospital in my town, where we observed various samples under the microscope, such as a cross-section of an onion leaf, a strand of hair and more. That experience made me realize that I wanted to work in a laboratory. Later, at university, I chose to study molecular biology and learn all about the molecular aspects of cell – we even performed a PCR in our first year! After finishing my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to delve deeper into science, so I enrolled in a PhD program. Now, I am in my fourth year of my PhD. I've moved to another province of my country (Argentina), had the opportunity to attend courses abroad and even completed a three-month research stay in New Zealand. Although there are times when experiments in the lab can stagnate, the moments of progress make it all worthwhile and that's what I enjoy most about pursuing a doctorate.
Who are your role models in science? Why?
My greatest role models in science are Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin, women who, despite the challenges of their time, made groundbreaking contributions and paved the way for closing the gender gap in science. Their work has had a profound impact on the world as we know it. I also deeply admire Andrea Gamarnik, who is a virologist from my home country Argentina. I had the opportunity to hear her speak when she visited our institute, and both her eloquence and her significant contributions to understanding dengue disease were truly inspiring.
What's next for you?
In Argentina, PhD programs last 5 years and I am currently starting my fourth year. I'm beginning to do the experiments that will make up another chapter of my thesis. Our goal for these studies is to further deepen our understanding of Trichomonas vaginalis within a social context.
Manuela Blasco Pedreros’s contact details: Laboratorio de Parásitos Anaerobios, Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (INTECH), CONICET-UNSAM, Buenos Aires CP 7130, Argentina.
E-mail: [email protected]
