Welcome to the Striepen lab

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We study  protozoan parasites and the current focus of our research program is Cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium is a leading global cause of diarrheal disease and early childhood mortality. This infection is an import cause and consequence of chronic malnutrition, and currently there are no fully effective drugs or vaccines to protect children.

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We develop and use modern approaches to understand  fundamental parasite biology and its interaction with the host. We study the molecular mechanisms that underlie parasite lifecycle progression and sex, how this intracellular pathogen invades and manipulates its host cell, and we seek to unravel how host immunity and parasite evasion battle for the outcome of the infection. We also  partner with colleagues in academia and industry to advance drug and vaccine development for Cryptosporidium. Have a look at our most recent publications for more detail

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The lab is part of the Department of Pathobiology, the Department of Microbiology, the Institute for Infectious and Zoonotic Diseases, the Institute for Immunology, and the Center for Global Health at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.