University of California-Davis · BiologySaeij Lab
Jeroen Saeij · Davis, California
Research Focus
Dr. Jeroen Saeij's lab at UC Davis focuses on understanding how the Toxoplasma gondii parasite survives and grows in human cells, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems. The lab investigates how human immune responses, including certain cytokines like interferon and tumor necrosis factor, can inhibit Toxoplasma growth, and how the parasite counters these defenses. Through advanced techniques like CRISPR screens, the research aims to identify potential new treatments for toxoplasmosis and to better predict which Toxoplasma strains may be more virulent in humans.
Toxoplasma gondiiimmunologyCRISPRcytokineshost-parasite interactionspathogen resistancetherapeutic interventionspublic healthinfectious diseases
Research Aims
5AIM 01Determine how interferon-stimulated human cells inhibit Toxoplasma growth
AIM 02Investigate how Toxoplasma secreted effectors allow its growth in human cells
AIM 03Identify mechanisms by which activated human immune cells detect Toxoplasma
AIM 04Examine the role of guanylate-binding proteins in parasite egress
AIM 05Explore therapeutic targets to enhance host killing mechanisms against Toxoplasma.
Skills the Lab Values
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editingcell cultureimmunofluorescence microscopyRNA extractionprotein analysiscytokine assaysprimary human cell assaysvacuole imagingdata analysis using R or Python
Output against the department
Publications143top 48% of dept.491st of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations16ktop 25% of dept.254th of 1,033
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.