School of Infection & Immunity

Dr Markus Ganter

Title: Plasmodium proliferation in the blood: mode and molecules

Synopsis: Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of human malaria. This single-celled eukaryote proliferates within red blood cells via schizogony, during which several rounds of nuclear multiplication occur before approx. 20 daughter cells are formed. Intriguingly, the nuclei multiply asynchronously despite residing in close proximity and in a shared cytoplasm. Here, Dr Ganter would like to present recent work to understand and exploit the unusual biology of Plasmodium falciparum proliferation. Specifically, he will discuss the mechanism that establishes asynchrony, the related benefits, molecular determinants of asynchrony, and how his group aims to exploit these insights to tackle malaria.

Bio: Markus is a zoologist by training and following his PhD on the motility of Plasmodium sporozoites from Heidelberg University, Markus moved to Harvard University for his postdoctoral training. Here, Markus started to investigate how Plasmodium falciparum proliferates in the blood stage of infection, which causes malaria. In 2016, Markus returned to Heidelberg University as group leader. Using quantitative live-cell imaging, genetic and proteomic approaches, the lab wants to gain a better understanding of the biology of Plasmodium falciparum proliferation. The Ganter lab also aims at translating molecular insights into novel therapeutics, which may ultimately help to curb malaria.

First published: 8 September 2026

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