As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on all the exciting progress and memorable moments we’ve shared in the lab. It’s been a year full of hard work, growth, and collaboration, and we’re proud of everything the team has accomplished.
This year, we celebrated Johan’s promotion to Associate Professor at MBW, Stockholm University—a fantastic milestone for him and our lab. We also expanded our teaching contributions, with Miren and Ylva gaining their first teaching experience during undergraduate and master’s courses at the department. Later, we had the unique opportunity to teach a PhD course on Advanced Genomics Technologies in Infection Biology for Brazilian students, co-organized with our collaborator, Nilmar Moretti at UNIFESP, São Paulo.
We’ve welcomed new members to the lab family: Gabriel, Henri, Lena, Francesco, Adrian, Nicole, and Katherine. Each of them has brought fresh energy and ideas to the lab, and it’s been a pleasure to watch the team grow and develop further as the young ambitious scientists they are.
The year was also filled with inspiring visits from great collaborators, including Prof. John Adams, from USF, USA; Assoc. Prof. Nilmar Moretti, from UNIFESP, Brazil; Prof Niklas Björkström, KI; and Rich Green, U Wash, USA, whose insights and shared expertise has enriched our work.
Let's not forget of our scientific contributions: in 2024, the Ankarklev Lab published three exciting new papers, including:
Decoding sex determination in malaria parasites: Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we uncovered the transcriptional programs and driver genes behind male and female cell fate during Plasmodium falciparum gametocytogenesis, providing key insights for transmission-blocking strategies. Read more here:
Metabolic adaptation in malaria parasites: We revealed how Plasmodium falciparum uses tRNA regulation and amino acid bias as a survival strategy, showcasing metabolic adaptation as a driver of protein evolution. Read more here.
Mapping host-parasite interactions in the liver: By combining spatial and single-cell transcriptomics, we charted how Plasmodium berghei remodels mouse liver tissue, identifying inflammatory hotspots and pathways relevant to malaria infection and immune response. Read more here.
Outside the lab, we’ve made time to unwind and celebrate together. From multiple international and national conferences - to hockey games - to celebrating achievements - and even a trip to Kiruna.
As we look ahead to the new year, we’re excited to continue building on this momentum and tackling the challenges and opportunities to come. A huge thank you to everyone who’s been part of our journey this year—here’s to an even brighter 2024!
