June 2025 Spotlight: Li-av Segev Zarko

How does one eukaryotic cell invade another, hijack its machinery, and evade its immune defenses - all in a matter of seconds? These are the questions that drive my lab’s work to understand the biology of Toxoplasma gondii, an apicomplexan parasite that infects nearly one-third of the global population.

I joined the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2024 as an Assistant Professor. My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, particularly how apicomplexan parasites orchestrate their rapid and complex invasion into host cells. To investigate this, we combine cryogenic electron tomography with molecular and biochemical tools to visualize and dissect the native architecture of the invasion machinery.

Our current work centers on identifying and characterizing parasite and host proteins that facilitate invasion and immune evasion. By studying their structure and function, we aim to better understand the molecular events that underpin pathogenesis and, ultimately, to inform new strategies for treating infections caused by apicomplexan parasites.

Outside the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching movies, and traveling. My current trips are shorter and more structured, but once upon a time, I spent eight months backpacking through South America - guided only by a travel book and curiosity, with no phone or GPS!

If you're curious about our research, visit our website: segevzarkolab or contact me at lisegevz@utmb.edu.