The dynamic equilibrium of membrane proteins and lipids at the cell surface and intracellular organelles is a critical factor in health and disease.
Dr Merja Joensuu’s
research group studies the lipid and protein determinants of cellular and neuronal membrane trafficking. The group is particularly interested in the mechanisms of neuroparalysis and viral infections, and how neurotoxins and viruses exploit cellular endocytic machinery to gain access into cells. They use advanced imaging techniques such as live cell super-resolution imaging and high-resolution electron microscopy, and a range of cell biological techniques, to understand the molecular mechanisms regulating cellular membrane dynamics. Understanding how cells function in health and disease is critical for discovering novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of disease, viral infections and neurointoxication pathologies.
Key publications
For a list of all publications, please click here.
