The Mottram laboratory works on the molecular genetics, cell biology and biochemistry of the parasitic protozoa that cause neglected tropical diseases such as leishmaniasis and Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT). The primary research goal of the laboratory is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which Leishmania and Trypanosoma parasites undergo cellular remodelling during their complex life cycles. The laboratory’s focus is on cell signalling pathways that are regulated by protein kinases and the turnover of proteins and organelles that occur through the action of peptidases associated with endocytic and autophagic pathways. The laboratory is also interested virulence factors that influence the host-parasite interaction, with a particular focus on natural peptidase inhibitors, natural variation in the Leishmania genome and new methods for monitoring disease progression. Our ultimate goal is to identify novel molecular mechanisms that can be exploited for the development of anti-parasite therapies.