Parasite Lab
@parasitelab.bsky.social
Located on unceded Wurundjeri land at La Trobe University.
The Hedtke lab studies nematode parasites, their insect hosts, and bacterial endosymbionts to improve public health.
The Hedtke lab studies nematode parasites, their insect hosts, and bacterial endosymbionts to improve public health.
Fun times at the Australian Society for Parasitology Annual Congress showcasing the amazing (and gross) biodiversity of parasites!
Successful talks on genomics of blackflies that transmit River blindness by @nehassirwani.bsky.social @sindew.bsky.social @millicentopoku.bsky.social
Successful talks on genomics of blackflies that transmit River blindness by @nehassirwani.bsky.social @sindew.bsky.social @millicentopoku.bsky.social
July 1, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Fun times at the Australian Society for Parasitology Annual Congress showcasing the amazing (and gross) biodiversity of parasites!
Successful talks on genomics of blackflies that transmit River blindness by @nehassirwani.bsky.social @sindew.bsky.social @millicentopoku.bsky.social
Successful talks on genomics of blackflies that transmit River blindness by @nehassirwani.bsky.social @sindew.bsky.social @millicentopoku.bsky.social
Here's the Hedtke Lab for 2025!
Shannon Hedtke
Warwick Grant
Sindew Feleke
Millicent Opoku
Anusha Kode
Neha Sirwani
Shannon Hedtke
Warwick Grant
Sindew Feleke
Millicent Opoku
Anusha Kode
Neha Sirwani
June 2, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Here's the Hedtke Lab for 2025!
Shannon Hedtke
Warwick Grant
Sindew Feleke
Millicent Opoku
Anusha Kode
Neha Sirwani
Shannon Hedtke
Warwick Grant
Sindew Feleke
Millicent Opoku
Anusha Kode
Neha Sirwani
Congrats to Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social on his pre-submission PhD seminar!
Sindew comes to La Trobe via the Ethiopian Public Health Ministry. His work on river blindness and the blackflies that transmit it will be a real asset towards elimation.
(Pictured w/Millicent Opoku)
Sindew comes to La Trobe via the Ethiopian Public Health Ministry. His work on river blindness and the blackflies that transmit it will be a real asset towards elimation.
(Pictured w/Millicent Opoku)
March 29, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Congrats to Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social on his pre-submission PhD seminar!
Sindew comes to La Trobe via the Ethiopian Public Health Ministry. His work on river blindness and the blackflies that transmit it will be a real asset towards elimation.
(Pictured w/Millicent Opoku)
Sindew comes to La Trobe via the Ethiopian Public Health Ministry. His work on river blindness and the blackflies that transmit it will be a real asset towards elimation.
(Pictured w/Millicent Opoku)
Mayfield et al. 2024
Lymphatic filariasis is a parasite disease that is challenging the islands of the South Pacific. This is a baseline for future studies, combining evidence from different methods for testing disease after people received triple-drug therapy.
doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120311
Lymphatic filariasis is a parasite disease that is challenging the islands of the South Pacific. This is a baseline for future studies, combining evidence from different methods for testing disease after people received triple-drug therapy.
doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120311
December 26, 2024 at 12:23 AM
Mayfield et al. 2024
Lymphatic filariasis is a parasite disease that is challenging the islands of the South Pacific. This is a baseline for future studies, combining evidence from different methods for testing disease after people received triple-drug therapy.
doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120311
Lymphatic filariasis is a parasite disease that is challenging the islands of the South Pacific. This is a baseline for future studies, combining evidence from different methods for testing disease after people received triple-drug therapy.
doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed9120311
We need an "official" lab photo, but until then:
Shannon Hedtke
Emily Hendrickson (now in the PhD program at USD)
Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social
Anusha Kode
Millicent Opoku
Not pictured: Neha Sirwani @nehassirwani.bsky.social
Warwick Grant
I am recruiting PhD students for 2025.
Shannon Hedtke
Emily Hendrickson (now in the PhD program at USD)
Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social
Anusha Kode
Millicent Opoku
Not pictured: Neha Sirwani @nehassirwani.bsky.social
Warwick Grant
I am recruiting PhD students for 2025.
December 18, 2024 at 12:41 AM
We need an "official" lab photo, but until then:
Shannon Hedtke
Emily Hendrickson (now in the PhD program at USD)
Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social
Anusha Kode
Millicent Opoku
Not pictured: Neha Sirwani @nehassirwani.bsky.social
Warwick Grant
I am recruiting PhD students for 2025.
Shannon Hedtke
Emily Hendrickson (now in the PhD program at USD)
Sindew Feleke @sindew.bsky.social
Anusha Kode
Millicent Opoku
Not pictured: Neha Sirwani @nehassirwani.bsky.social
Warwick Grant
I am recruiting PhD students for 2025.
Lymphatic filariasis is a preventable parasitic disease that is the #1 cause of chronic physical disability worldwide.
Our team is trying to eliminate this scourge in South Pacific Islands.
Our team is trying to eliminate this scourge in South Pacific Islands.
December 18, 2024 at 12:33 AM
Lymphatic filariasis is a preventable parasitic disease that is the #1 cause of chronic physical disability worldwide.
Our team is trying to eliminate this scourge in South Pacific Islands.
Our team is trying to eliminate this scourge in South Pacific Islands.
Hedtke et al. 2024
River blindness is caused by a parasite, and is treatable and preventable with the right drugs. However, in northeast Ethiopia, River blindness is returning.
We show that migration of infective blackflies from the south may re-introduce the disease.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
River blindness is caused by a parasite, and is treatable and preventable with the right drugs. However, in northeast Ethiopia, River blindness is returning.
We show that migration of infective blackflies from the south may re-introduce the disease.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Hedtke et al. 2024
River blindness is caused by a parasite, and is treatable and preventable with the right drugs. However, in northeast Ethiopia, River blindness is returning.
We show that migration of infective blackflies from the south may re-introduce the disease.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
River blindness is caused by a parasite, and is treatable and preventable with the right drugs. However, in northeast Ethiopia, River blindness is returning.
We show that migration of infective blackflies from the south may re-introduce the disease.
doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Howlett et al. 2024
Detecting parasites in people can be challenging. Looking for evidence of human parasites in the vectors that transmit them may be an effective alternative.
Although then I wouldn't get to spend hours looking through a microscope searching for worms.
doi.org/10.1186/s130...
Detecting parasites in people can be challenging. Looking for evidence of human parasites in the vectors that transmit them may be an effective alternative.
Although then I wouldn't get to spend hours looking through a microscope searching for worms.
doi.org/10.1186/s130...
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Howlett et al. 2024
Detecting parasites in people can be challenging. Looking for evidence of human parasites in the vectors that transmit them may be an effective alternative.
Although then I wouldn't get to spend hours looking through a microscope searching for worms.
doi.org/10.1186/s130...
Detecting parasites in people can be challenging. Looking for evidence of human parasites in the vectors that transmit them may be an effective alternative.
Although then I wouldn't get to spend hours looking through a microscope searching for worms.
doi.org/10.1186/s130...
Sirwani et al. 2024
C. elegans is famous for being genetically manipulated to test the impact of different proteins on behavior.
Accumulation of the protein amyloid beta (Aβ) is associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Measures of C.elegans behavior worsen with higher expression of human Aβ.
C. elegans is famous for being genetically manipulated to test the impact of different proteins on behavior.
Accumulation of the protein amyloid beta (Aβ) is associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Measures of C.elegans behavior worsen with higher expression of human Aβ.
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Sirwani et al. 2024
C. elegans is famous for being genetically manipulated to test the impact of different proteins on behavior.
Accumulation of the protein amyloid beta (Aβ) is associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Measures of C.elegans behavior worsen with higher expression of human Aβ.
C. elegans is famous for being genetically manipulated to test the impact of different proteins on behavior.
Accumulation of the protein amyloid beta (Aβ) is associated with Alzheimer's Disease. Measures of C.elegans behavior worsen with higher expression of human Aβ.
Al-Jawabreh et al. 2024
Strongyloidiasis, caused by threadworms, has been called the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases... which means research is underfunded and undervalued. In this paper, we identify some key areas for future research.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Strongyloidiasis, caused by threadworms, has been called the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases... which means research is underfunded and undervalued. In this paper, we identify some key areas for future research.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Al-Jawabreh et al. 2024
Strongyloidiasis, caused by threadworms, has been called the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases... which means research is underfunded and undervalued. In this paper, we identify some key areas for future research.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Strongyloidiasis, caused by threadworms, has been called the most neglected of neglected tropical diseases... which means research is underfunded and undervalued. In this paper, we identify some key areas for future research.
doi.org/10.1098/rstb...
Shrestha et al 2024
If we can figure out how parasites are moving around, we can design better strategies to eliminate them.
We provide a framework for linking gene flow in the parasite and in its blackfly vector to the distribution of the disease River blindness in Ghana.
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
If we can figure out how parasites are moving around, we can design better strategies to eliminate them.
We provide a framework for linking gene flow in the parasite and in its blackfly vector to the distribution of the disease River blindness in Ghana.
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
December 5, 2024 at 6:17 AM
Shrestha et al 2024
If we can figure out how parasites are moving around, we can design better strategies to eliminate them.
We provide a framework for linking gene flow in the parasite and in its blackfly vector to the distribution of the disease River blindness in Ghana.
doi.org/10.1111/mec....
If we can figure out how parasites are moving around, we can design better strategies to eliminate them.
We provide a framework for linking gene flow in the parasite and in its blackfly vector to the distribution of the disease River blindness in Ghana.
doi.org/10.1111/mec....