Johnson innovates in the study of a neglected parasite
The parasite Trichomonas vaginalis causes the world’s most common nonviral sexually transmitted infection. In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named trichomoniasis one of the U.S.’s “Neglected Parasitic Infections.” Yet has done anything but neglect this parasite — she’s made a career of it.
For her work, Johnson, a distinguished professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, will receive the 麻豆传媒色情片 and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology’s 2020/2021 Alice and C.C. Wang Award recognizing seminal contributions to the field of molecular parasitology.
Johnson began working on Trichomonas 30 years ago. Research on this parasite was minimal at the time, she said, describing the field as a blank slate. She used her training in molecular biology to lay the groundwork for what we know about Trichomonas today. She was the first researcher to clone and analyze a gene in T. vaginalis, and she led a team of researchers to sequence and annotate the first T. vaginalis genome.
“I realized that many systems could be studied in parasites,” Johnson said. “I’m fascinated by how many properties parasites have evolved to interact with the host and survive in such hostile environments.”
For the past decade, Johnson has focused on these interactions. Her work has shed light on a novel mechanism of immune-cell killing of T. vaginalis and has defined critical factors that influence infection outcome, including parasitic surface molecules that are involved with adherence and lysis of host cells.
In her letter nominating Johnson for the award, , distinguished professor at the University of California, Berkeley, lauded Johnson’s “distinguished career, defined by innovation, creativity, and discovery” and called her a “leader and innovator” in the field.
Johnson said she finds comfort in her research as a refuge from real-life worries, which is part of what keeps her motivated, along with the challenge of answering scientific questions.
“I like solving the puzzle,” she said, “looking at new information and trying to make sense of it.”
Killing a parasite with trogocytosis
Trichomonas vaginalis annually in the U.S. Men typically have no symptoms, but in women the parasite causes pain, itching and, if they are pregnant, a risk of premature delivery.
Patricia Johnson’s recent research focuses on the aspects of the host–parasite interaction that affect infection outcome. Her lab has found that neutrophils, white blood cells involved in the early immune response to infection, use a mechanism called trogocytosis to kill T. vaginalis. Trogocytosis is essentially immune cells nibbling away at the parasite until a critical level of damage is reached, leading to the parasite’s death. This work is the first to describe trogocytosis as a mechanism of neutrophil killing.
Johnson also has characterized extracellular vesicles called exosomes that are secreted by T. vaginalis during infection. These vesicles then are internalized by host cells and can modify the host cell response to infection, essentially reprogramming these cells and the host response in a way that is beneficial to the parasite. Johnson’s research will continue to expand the field’s understanding of parasite–host interactions.
Enjoy reading ASBMB Today?
Become a member to receive the print edition four times a year and the digital edition monthly.
Learn moreGet the latest from ASBMB Today
Enter your email address, and we鈥檒l send you a weekly email with recent articles, interviews and more.
Latest in People
People highlights or most popular articles
Meet the 2025 SOC grant awardees
Five science outreach and communication projects received up to $1,000 from ASBMB to promote the understanding of molecular life science.
Unraveling cancer鈥檚 spaghetti proteins
MOSAIC scholar Katie Dunleavy investigates how Aurora kinase A shields oncogene c-MYC from degradation, using cutting-edge techniques to uncover new strategies targeting 鈥渦ndruggable鈥� molecules.
How HCMV hijacks host cells 鈥� and beyond
Ileana Cristea, an ASBMB Breakthroughs webinar speaker, presented her research on how viruses reprogram cell structure and metabolism to enhance infection and how these mechanisms might link viral infections to cancer and other diseases.
Understanding the lipid link to gene expression in the nucleus
Ray Blind, an ASBMB Breakthroughs speaker, presented his research on how lipids and sugars in the cell nucleus are involved in signaling and gene expression and how these pathways could be targeted to identify therapeutics for diseases like cancer.
In memoriam: William S. Sly
He served on the 麻豆传媒色情片 and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology Council in 2005 and 2006 and was an ASBMB member for 35 years.
ASBMB committees welcome new members
Members joined these committees: Education and Professional Development, Maximizing Access, Meetings, 麻豆传媒色情片, Public Affairs Advisory, Science Outreach and Communication, Student Chapters and Women in Biochemistry and 麻豆传媒色情片 Biology.