Microsporidia are common and important sporeforming unicellular parasites of all kinds of animals. They are highly evolved with a unique infection apparatus. All life cycle stages lack mitochondria and the parasite develops in close association with organelles of the host cell. We are studying the structure and function of the cellular components and evaluate the taxonomy of various groups of microsporidia.
Group members at the Department of Cell and Organism Biology are Ronny Larsson (professor) and Annika Bronnvall (postgraduate student). The group is collaborating with research groups in Uppsala, Zürich, Belfast, Wageningen and Tilburg.
About the image above: Scanning electron micrograph showing spore groups and ejected polar filaments from the microsporidium Bohuslavia asterias.
