thepara.site blog

‌Our blog highlights the work that we carry out at the Centre and aims to provide an insight into the world of scientific research. 

Micrograph of single trypanosome
Micrograph of single trypanosome

Castellani vs Bruce: the controversial discovery of the cause of sleeping sickness (3)

Tue, 11 May 2021 13:44:00 BST

In the third and final part of this series, Dr Federica Giordani considers the professional dispute that errupted once trypanosomes were found to be the cause of sleeping sickness and the legacy of Aldo Castellani.

Archive Photo from Uganda (Wellcome Images)
Archive Photo from Uganda (Wellcome Images)

Castellani vs Bruce: the controversial discovery of the cause of sleeping sickness (2)

Wed, 05 May 2021 11:54:00 BST

In the second part of this series, Dr Federica Giordani relays the personality clashes and mistaken assumptions that dogged the first British Sleeping Sickness Commission - until a key observation was made.

Aldo Castellani and David Bruce (images under CC license)
Aldo Castellani and David Bruce (images under CC license)

Castellani vs Bruce: the controversial discovery of the cause of sleeping sickness (1)

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 10:49:00 BST

Scientific discoveries are often prone to dispute and contention. In the first of a three-part series, Dr Federica Giordani sheds light on who actually discovered the cause of sleeping sickness.

Leishmania: an ancient disease that remains a tremendous health burden

Sat, 20 Jun 2020 11:08:00 BST

PhD student Victoria Bolton talks about the persistence of Leishmania in human populations and how the parasite evades our immune system.

Inside the petri dish: the evolution of culture media

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:08:00 BST

In laboratories around the world, culture media are used to grow microorganisms, cells and tissues. Dr Federica Giordani tells us how they were developed.

Ubiquitin 3
Ubiquitin 3

I’m not ubi-quitin yet: translating “ubiquitination” into simple language

Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:14:00 BST

PhD student Lauren carruthers explains the importance of this common protein.

Henry tryptich 1
Henry tryptich 1

Public Engagement: A Penguin’s Perspective

Thu, 21 Mar 2019 15:58:00 GMT

Of poop and penguins...

crispr cas blog Fig 2 tile
crispr cas blog Fig 2 tile

CRISPR/Cas: How an ancient defence mechanism benefits our research in present day

Thu, 24 Jan 2019 14:17:00 GMT

Genetic scissors and CRISPR/Cas - PhD student Johannes Stortz sheds some light on the biological origin of the this technology.

Johannes Stortz Blog tile
Johannes Stortz Blog tile

Bacteria – a researcher’s best friend

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 12:04:00 GMT

PhD student Johannes Felix Stortz tells us how bacteria are used in many common laboratory procedures.

Mebop 2018 Tile
Mebop 2018 Tile

Middle East Biology of Parasitism (MeBoP) – bringing scientists together from areas of conflict

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 11:33:00 BST

The third MeBoP programme was held this summer at the University of Bern. Dr Lilach Sheiner, one of the founders, and Farah Hamdan, a participant, tell us more about this special workshop.

Green Man tile 2
Green Man tile 2

Parasites, viruses and wellington boots… (oh my!)

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 12:33:00 BST

The Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology and the Centre for Virus Research recently took part in the Green Man Festival. Dr Danielle Smyth tells us more.

Acting for Health TILE
Acting for Health TILE

Engaging Communities About Research Through Community Led Performance: Schistosomiasis and Acting for Health.

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 14:36:00 BST

PhD student Lauren Carruthers of the Lamberton Lab talks about a new approach to community engagement in Uganda.

Fernando Fernandez-cortes - tile for blog
Fernando Fernandez-cortes - tile for blog

Know your enemy: the key to fighting parasitic diseases

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:42:00 BST

Dr Fernando Fernandez-cortes talks about our basic approach to understanding parasitic diseases, and how 'chinks in their armour' can be used to develop effective drugs for treating infected individuals and animals.

Lauren's Uganda Blog - tile picture
Lauren's Uganda Blog - tile picture

Schisto Gist: Worming Our Way in the Field to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases

Tue, 02 May 2017 14:11:00 BST

PhD student Lauren Carruthers tells us about her recent trip to Uganda and her work on the SCHISTO_PERSIST project.

Jenn Stortz - Tile
Jenn Stortz - Tile

Reporting from The British Society for Parasitology (BSP) meeting in Prague

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 12:12:00 GMT

Jennifer Ann Stortz, a post-doc in the McCulloch Group, outlines some of the new science presented at the BSP Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Leishmaniasis Seminar in Prague.

science journals - blog
science journals - blog

Behind the Research: What is the Peer Review System?

Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:44:00 GMT

Dr Federica Giordani explains the process by which the quality of scientific research is assessed before publication in academic journals.

Trypanosome comic tile
Trypanosome comic tile

Using Comics to illustrate Our Research

Mon, 09 May 2016 16:14:00 BST

Comic artist Edward Ross has again worked with us to produce a brand new comic called "Sleeping Sickness:the fight against a nightmarish disease". Read about the importance of comics to our public engagement programme.

Blog toxo tile
Blog toxo tile

What's New in Molecular Parasitology?

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:56:00 BST

PhD student Jamie Whitelaw reports back on an exciting week at an important conference at Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Blog Plasmodium tile
Blog Plasmodium tile

Molecular Approaches to Malaria (MAM) 2016

Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:47:00 GMT

The WTCMP Blog kicks off with this post from PhD student Joanne Power, who has recently returned from the MAM Conference in Lorne, Australia. Read on to learn about some of the latest developments in malaria research.