Catarina Marques
@marquescata.bsky.social
Hi! I’m a postdoc at University of Glasgow looking into how Trypanosomes and Leishmania replicate their DNA! #DNAReplication #Kinetoplastids Also a SYNGAP1 mom #SYNGAP1
Latest paper properly out ... beautiful figures @scotomorph.bsky.social
Genome Biology and Evolution@genomebiolevol.bsky.social · last mo.Krasiļņikova assembled a T2T genome of Trypanosoma congolense, comparing it with T. brucei to reveal shared and divergent architecture, and provided preliminary evidence for differing strategies for antigenic variation via a common antigen 🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/article/... #societyjournal #genome
@emmamariebriggs.bsky.social and I paired up for a scRNAseq exp eons ago to look at cell cycle regulated genes in Leish... The analysis evolved over time, incorporated other datasets in the lab, and looked for life cycle forms in vitro. We now bring you what we found! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Single-cell transcriptomics reveals life cycle and cell cycle gene expression dynamics during in vitro growth of two Leishmania species
Leishmania species are transmitted between mammals by sand flies, within which they undergo a complex developmental programme involving transitions between replicative and non-replicative life cycle f...
biorxiv.org
New from the Horn Lab @ University of Dundee and the Tomás Lab @ i3S in Porto academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Zinc-dependent turnover of ZIP3 transporter mRNA by trypanosome ZNK1
Abstract. Like other cells, parasitic and other trypanosomatids sense Zn2+ and regulate Zn2+ transport, but the mechanisms involved remained unknown. Here,
academic.oup.com
We are pleased to share a pre-print of collaborative work @scotomorph.bsky.social @janemunday.bsky.social @keithrmatthews.bsky.social @goldrieve.bsky.social describing the genome of Trypanosoma congolense and the organisation of VSG genes for immune evasion www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
New work on T. brucei antigenic variation in cows and homologous recombination mutants, great collaboration with @keithrmatthews.bsky.social Liam Morrison and others. Big effort by Steve Larcombe @janemunday.bsky.social @goldrieve.bsky.social @scotomorph.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Restricted expression site use and extreme genome diversification drives trypanosome antigenic variation in chronic bovine infections
Trypanosoma brucei exploits an extreme form of antigenic variation to escape the mammalian immune response. This involves the progressive expression of antigenically distinct variant surface glycoprot...
biorxiv.org
New preprint, revealing contrasting means of VSG expression in two African trypanosomes; great collaboration with @keithrmatthews.bsky.social Liam Morrison and other valued colleagues @janemunday.bsky.social @scotomorph.bsky.social @marquescata.bsky.social tinyurl.com/3n8b9pwv
Trypanosoma congolense Variant Surface Glycoprotein gene expression occurs in the absence of monoallelic transcription control
Antigenic variation is a very widespread process for pathogen evasion of mammalian adaptive immunity, involving the continuous change of exposed antigens. In many single-celled pathogens, antigen expr...
tinyurl.com
Restricted expression site use and extreme genome diversification drives trypanosome antigenic variation in chronic bovine infections www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.31.741217v1
Trypanosoma congolense Variant Surface Glycoprotein gene expression occurs in the absence of monoallelic transcription control www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.07.31.741978v1
(1/7) How does T. brucei achieve a 140-fold stoichiometric excess of VSG mRNA over upstream ESAGs from a single polycistronic unit? Our latest research in @natmicrobiol.nature.com reveals a mechanism of spatially regulated RNA decay to fine-tune expression of virulence genes
Out Now! Specialized RNA decay fine-tunes monogenic antigen expression in Trypanosoma brucei #MicroSky
Specialized RNA decay fine-tunes monogenic antigen expression in Trypanosoma brucei
Nature Microbiology, Published online: 30 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s41564-026-02289-4To evade the immune system, Trypanosoma brucei relies on a specialized ‘expression site body’. Protein condensates within this nuclear compartment modulate expression of virulence genes via a targeted RNA decay mechanism.
go.nature.com
Newest collaborative paper out now on biorxiv - new genome and VSG arrangements in T. congolense, excellent work by Marija! In the words of @scotomorph.bsky.social T. congolense ≠ T. brucei www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @rmc9z.bsky.social @keithrmatthews.bsky.social
biorxiv.org
De novo assembly of the Trypanosoma congolense genome reveals an organisation influenced by antigenic variation but distinct from Trypanosoma brucei https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.19.706783v1
New from the Horn Lab at the University of Dundee www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Decoding efficacy and resistance space at a drug binding site - Nature Communications
The authors in this work present a study with multiplexed gene editing that is used to assess all possible mutations at a native drug binding site. The approach yields data that predicts spontaneous r...
nature.com
Save the dates!! @bspparasitology.bsky.social Spring Meeting 2026 will be in Bonnie Glasgow! 7-9 April 2026, with a drinks reception in Glasgow City Chambers on the 6th of April 2026! Keep an eye on the BSP website for registration and abstract submission! Logo by @shannaraeilean.bsky.social! 🦟
Pleased 2 share our new article: single-molecule replication mapping in Leishmania using DNAscent. We show widespread stochastic origin firing and insights into genome variability. www.cell.com/cell-reports...
So happy to share the first preprint from our lab on post-transcriptional regulation at the VSG expression-site body in trypanosomes. @ybri-uoy.bsky.social @york.ac.uk
Specialised RNA decay fine-tunes monogenic antigen expression in African trypanosomes
Antigenic variation is a sophisticated immune evasion strategy employed by many pathogens. Trypanosoma brucei expresses a single Variant-Surface-Glycoprotein (VSG) from a large genetic repertoire, whi...
biorxiv.org
DNA replication beyond the cores of megabase chromosomes of T. brucei -- some of my PhD work is FINALLY out! doi.org/10.1038/s414... thank you to @rmc9z.bsky.social @marquescata.bsky.social Emma, Dario, Kathryn, Graham and Craig!
Nanopore sequencing reveals that DNA replication compartmentalisation dictates genome stability and instability in Trypanosoma brucei - Nature Communications
A full description of trypanosome genome replication has proved elusive. Here, after genome assembly, the authors reveal compartmentalisation of DNA replication activity and stability between transcri...
doi.org
New paper @uofgsii.bsky.social led by @scotomorph.bsky.social @marquescata.bsky.social where we show that T. brucei DNA replication dynamics reflect structural and functional compartmentalisation of the genome, including stability. Well done Marija, and thanks all co-authors! doi.org/10.1038/s414...
Nanopore sequencing reveals that DNA replication compartmentalisation dictates genome stability and instability in Trypanosoma brucei - Nature Communications
A full description of trypanosome genome replication has proved elusive. Here, after genome assembly, the authors reveal compartmentalisation of DNA replication activity and stability between transcri...
doi.org
New preprint from others in the lab - Mapping origins of DNA replication in Leishmania. Great work Jeziel, Gabriel, @marquescata.bsky.social, Marija, Craig, Dario and the boss! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Nuclear DNA replication in Leishmania major relies on a single constitutive origin per chromosome supplemented by thousands of stochastic initiation events
Understanding genome duplication requires characterisation of the locations where DNA replication initiates, termed origins. Genome-wide mapping of DNA replication origins has mainly been derived from...
biorxiv.org
Extremely excited to meet former colleagues from my PhD, other BoP 2019 @mblscience.bsky.social alumni, old friends and colleagues, as well as many new!
