Our laboratory seeks to understand how gene expression is regulated in pathogens that cause the major tropical diseases of the world, such as trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and malaria. These parasitic organisms evade the human immune system using sophisticated molecular mechanisms that are based on the appearance of unique surface proteins at the proper times during infection. Our goal is to determine at the DNA and RNA levels how these parasites developmentally regulate the production of these surface proteins in anticipation that this information will help to eliminate or better control these diseases.