University of California-Davis · Microbiology & ImmunologyThe Trogocytosis Team
Katherine S Ralston · Davis, California
Research Focus
Dr. Katherine Ralston's lab at UC Davis focuses on understanding how the amoeba Entamoeba histolytica causes disease in humans by invading tissues and avoiding immune responses. They discovered a unique method by which this amoeba nibbles on human cells, allowing it to survive and cause harm. The lab uses various techniques to study this process, which has broader implications for understanding microbial behavior and immune evasion.
Entamoeba histolyticatrogocytosisamoebiasisimmune evasioncellular communication
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of trogocytosis in immune evasion by E. histolytica.
AIM 02Dissect the cellular mechanisms underlying amoebic cell-killing.
AIM 03Study the pathogenesis of amoebiasis in a mouse model.
AIM 04Explore broader implications of trogocytosis in eukaryotic biology.
AIM 05Define new cellular models for understanding cell communication.
Skills the Lab Values
imaging flow cytometrymouse modelscell cultureimmunofluorescencemolecular biology techniques
Output against the department
Publications42bottom 7% of dept.450th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations1.7kbottom 10% of dept.435th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.