UGUniversity of Georgia · Biology
Calcium Response Lab
Silvia N Moreno · Athens, Georgia
Research Focus
Dr. Silvia N. Moreno's research lab focuses on understanding how the Toxoplasma gondii parasite uses calcium signaling for infection and survival. They aim to identify new drug targets to combat reactivation of this common parasite that poses severe risks to immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. By uncovering the mechanisms of calcium channels and other critical pathways, the lab is working towards developing more effective treatments for toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasma gondiicalcium signalingdrug targetsapicomplexan parasitesmitochondrial enzymes
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate calcium channels in Toxoplasma gondii
AIM 02Characterize the calcium signaling mechanisms used by the parasite
AIM 03Validate ubiquinone synthesis as a drug target
AIM 04Develop inhibitors against mitochondrial enzymes of T. gondii
AIM 05Explore the role of calcium in parasitic egress and infection
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureelectrophysiologymolecular cloningin vitro drug screeningproteomicsbioinformaticsimmunofluorescence microscopyanimal modelsprotein purification
Output against the department
Publications140top 49% of dept.509th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.6kbottom 41% of dept.607th of 1,033
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.