University of California-Los Angeles · Microbiology & ImmunologyHill Lab
Kent L Hill · Los Angeles, California
Research Focus
The Hill lab at UCLA studies a peculiar type of parasite known as Trypanosoma brucei, which causes a serious illness called sleeping sickness in humans and livestock. Their research focuses on understanding the structure and function of the parasite's flagellum, a tail-like structure crucial for its movement and interaction with its environment. The lab utilizes advanced microscopy techniques to explore how these parasites assemble their flagella and how this knowledge can lead to new ways of treating diseases caused by similar parasites.
Trypanosomeflagellumassemblymotilitypathogenic parasitessleeping sicknessstructural biologymicroscopytherapeutic targetsprotozoan parasites
Research Aims
3AIM 01Determine the atomic structures of Trypanosoma brucei's flagellum.
AIM 02Investigate the mechanisms of flagellum assembly and its role in motility.
AIM 03Identify specific proteins unique to trypanosomes that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.
Skills the Lab Values
Cryo-electron microscopyMolecular geneticsBiophysical analysisProtein chemistryFluorescence microscopyStructural modelingData processing with AIMotility assaysMutation analysisCell biology techniques
Output against the department
Publications85bottom 28% of dept.351st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.4kbottom 34% of dept.320th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.