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Physics of Parasitism (PoP) is a DFG-funded Schwerpunktprogramm (Priority Programme). It is a joint effort of German parasitologists and physicists that was approved for funding in November 2021. There are currently 16 research projects, including a central technology platform, spread across the country. Although it is a German initiative, PoP is open to all interested scientists from all countries.

Parasitism, the intimate antagonistic liaison between two species, has always fascinated scientists from a variety of disciplines. Traditionally, parasitology was concerned mainly with organismic studies, while today’s parasitology focuses on medically-relevant cellular and molecular mechanisms, at ever-increasing depth. The priority programme “Physics of Parasitism” (PoP) defines a new frontier in this field, namely the physics of parasites interacting with their hosts.

For the first time, physicists and biologists jointly survey the forces acting in and around parasites. In this instance, even phylogenetically divergent biological systems are readily comparable, because PoP does not aim at deciphering molecular pathways, but rather measuring and modelling physical parameters. This is the unifying element within PoP.

Coordination

Markus Engstler (Universität Würzburg)

Funding

Media

Twitter - @ParasitePhysics

Instagram - parasitephysics

PoP News

PoP at ICOPA 2022

August 21-26, 2022

Markus Engstler chaired the Physics of Parasitism symposium as part of the ICOPA2022 meeting.

Parasite Physics announcements

Do YOU have a parasite physics announcement (PhD/postdoc positions, upcoming conferences/workshops/symposia) that you'd like promoting in the PoP community and beyond? Contact Brooke Morriswood if so.

Parasite physics PhD position available!

July 26th, 2022

A fully-funded 3-year PhD position to examine the adhesion and mechanics of coddician parasites is available in the Husson/Puech/Dumetre groups in France. The project involves the development of single-cell force measurement tools.

1st annual PoP meeting announced

(November 28, 2022)

The first annual PoP meeting will take place in Würzburg at the end of November 2022.

Inaugural PoP meeting

March 24-25th, 2022

The PoP programme begins! The inaugural meeting took place online to introduce the projects and the structure of the programme.

Brooke Morriswood to be PoP coordinator

March 1st, 2022

Brooke Morriswood has been appointed as the coordinator for the PoP programme. Brooke is currently a group leader in Würzburg working on the molecular cell biology of trypanosomatids.