Introducing Martje Grensemann DC1
My PhD goals: Identify new drug targets for cystinosis and other inherited kidney diseases, step out of my comfort zone, deepen my passion for research, and, of course, have fun!š
My Background: After school, I began my Bachelor in Biophysics in my hometown, LĆ¼beck. Driven by a growing interest in biology, I pursued my Master’s in Molecular Biology at the Humboldt University of Berlin. During this time, I had the opportunity to participate in the iGEM competition of 2021 and worked as a research assistant and tutor in the microbiology department. My passion for organoid research was ignited during an internship at the Robert Koch-Institute where I attempted to modify intestinal organoids using CRISPR/Cas. This experience paved the way for my Master’s thesis, where I continued to work with intestinal organoids as an infection model to investigate the host-pathogen interaction of Cryptosporidium parvum, an intracellular parasite.
My research interests: I am passionate about exploring the field of tissue engineering, focusing on the development and improvement of organoid models. By refining these organoid systems, I aim to gain deeper insights into kidney diseases and their underlying mechanisms, ultimately contributing to better treatment strategies and therapeutic outcomes.
My hobbies: Hanging out with my friends and playing board games, bouldering, badminton, reading, baking
Master thesis: Investigation of Parasite-host Interaction of Cryptosporidium parvum in an Organoid-based Infection Model.Ā
Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan parasite, is one leading parasitic cause of waterborne diarrhea, particularly affecting young children in developing countries. Its transmission occurs via resilient oocysts, making treatment challenging due to the lack of drug targets and stable cell culture systems. In my thesis, I utilized intestinal organoids to model human epithelial cells, employing duodenal and ileal-derived monolayers infected with parvum. Air-liquid interfaces facilitated parasite life cycle completion. Immunofluorescence and microscopy confirmed all life stages in duodenal monolayers, with propagation observed for up to 21 days. No significant differences were found in infection between duodenal and ileal monolayers. Additionally, the role of apoptosis in response to infection was examined, and an increase was observed over time, with cleaved caspase-3 serving as a critical mediator. This innovative organoid model offers a more physiologically relevant environment for studying C. parvum, potentially leading to new drug targets and treatments for cryptosporidiosis.