

Contact
Education
PhD, University of Wisconsin, Madison
MS, University of Wisconsin, Madison
BA, University of Montana
Academic Affiliation(s)
Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Member, Molecular Virology and Microbiology Graduate Program
Research
In my lab we study the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasma is an obligate intracellular parasite in the same phylum as other human and animal pathogens, including the causative agents of malaria and cryptosporidiosis. It is estimated that over a third of the world population has been infected with this parasite, and it can cause severe and lethal disease in the immunocompromised and in the developing fetus. To date there is no cure for this parasite.
We are primarily interested in identifying Toxoplasma virulence genes and characterizing their mechanism of action. To do this we use molecular, genetic, and functional/comparative genomic approaches. Specifically, we are currently using comparative genomics to identify genes that are unique to Toxoplasma compared to its avirulent relatives, and then testing them in both cell culture and in vivo models for their role in parasite growth and virulence. This work is facilitated by the fact that Toxoplasma is very amenable to genetic manipulation and the genomes for multiple strains of the parasite have been fully sequenced. We are also embarking on our own sequencing projects of novel Toxoplasma strains and closely-related species to facilitate these comparative analyses. Students working in the lab are exposed to a wide variety of techniques, including cell culture, microarray and RNAseq analyses, next generation whole-genome sequencing, genetic manipulation of parasites and host cells, and in vivo bioluminescence imaging.
For more information on Dr. Boyle's lab, please visit his lab website.
Lab Personnel
Germine Alfonse, Undergraduate Researcher
Jeff Danielson, Undergraduate Reaseacher
Elisabeth D. English, Graduate Student
Jon Harper, Undergraduate Researcher
Greg Wier, Graduate Student
Areas of Interest
Host-pathogen interactions; evolution; host range expansion; gene duplication and expansion
Publications
Pernas L, Adomako-Ankomah Y, Shastri A. J, Ewald S. E, Treeck M, Boyle J. P, and Boothroyd J. C. Toxoplasma effector MAF1 mediates recruitment of host mitochondria and impacts the host response. PLoS Biol. 12(4): e1001845. | View Abstract
Adomako-Ankomah Y, Wier G. M, Borges A. L, Wand H. E, and Boyle J. P. Differential locus expansion distinguishes Toxoplasmatinae species and closely related strains of Toxoplasma gondii. MBio. 5(1): e01003-13. | View Abstract
Feliu V, Vasseur V, Grover H. S, Chu H. H, Brown M. J, Wang J, Boyle J. P, Robey E. A, Shastri N, and Blanchard N. Location of the CD8 T cell epitope within the antigenic precursor determines immunogenicity and protection against the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. PLoS Pathog. 9(6): e1003449 | View Abstract
Walzer K. A, Adomako-Ankomah Y, Dam R. A, Herrmann D. C, Schares G, Dubey J. P, and Boyle J. P. Hammondia hammondi, an avirulent relative of Toxoplasma gondii, has functional orthologs of known T. gondii virulence genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 110(8): 7449-7451. | View Abstract
Kamau E. T, Srinivasan A. R, Brown M. J, Fair M. G, Caraher E. J, and Boyle J. P. A focused small-molecule screen identifies 14 compounds with distinct effects on Toxoplasma gondii. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 56(11): 5581-5590. | View Abstract
Kamau E, Meehan T, Lavine M. D, Arrizabalaga G, Mustata Wilson G, and Boyle J. A novel benzodioxole-containing inhibitor of Toxoplasma gondii growth alters the parasite cell cycle. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55(12): 5438-5451. | View Abstract
Reese M. L, Zeiner G. M, Saeij J. P, Boothroyd J. C, and Boyle J. P. Polymorphic family of injected pseudokinases is paramount in Toxoplasma virulence. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 108(23): 9625-9630. | View Abstract