M. Belen Cassera, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
The Cassera Lab has been focused on the metabolism of human malaria parasites using state-of-the-art metabolomic approaches. Specifically, her lab contributed to the understanding of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway in asexual and sexual stages of P. falciparum. Broadly, her lab is focused on the isoprenome and the downstream uses of isoprenoids. These studies extend beyond malaria parasites and include the study of dolichol biosynthesis from isoprenoids and its link to glycosylation. In collaboration with a group at Virginia Tech, Dr. Cassera’s lab also leads an effort to discover novel antimalarials from natural products as well as their mechanism of action. The Cassera Lab uses an interdisciplinary approach, therefore trainees obtain excellent training in mass spectrometry, drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and cellular biology.