🎉 Congratulations to Nick on Receiving the Microbial Pathogenesis Training Grant!

We are excited to announce that our graduate student Nick Coburn has been selected as a trainee in UCLA’s Multidisciplinary Training Program in Microbial Pathogenesis (MPTG) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The MPTG is a prestigious NIH-funded training program that supports outstanding graduate students and postdoctoral researchers studying host–microbe interactions, infectious diseases, and microbial pathogenesis. The program brings together trainees from diverse disciplines and provides advanced scientific training, mentorship, career development opportunities, and interactions with leading researchers in the field.

As an MPTG trainee, Nick will participate in specialized activities including research symposia, microbial pathogenesis seminars featuring internationally recognized scientists, journal clubs focused on host–pathogen interactions, career development workshops, community outreach activities, and training in research rigor, reproducibility, and scientific ethics.

This award recognizes Nick’s accomplishments as a young scientist and the promise of his research in advancing our understanding of host–pathogen interactions. We are proud to see his work recognized through this competitive training opportunity and look forward to following his continued scientific growth.

Please join us in congratulating Nick on this well-deserved achievement! 🎉🦠🧪

🎓 Celebrating Our Undergraduate Researchers on Graduation Day!

On June 14, we proudly celebrated a major milestone as our undergraduate researchers officially graduated from UCLA and participated in the Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (MIMG) Commencement Ceremony on campus. The ceremony brought together graduates, families, friends, and faculty to recognize years of hard work, perseverance, and achievement. Held at UCLA's Kerckhoff Patio, the event marked the culmination of their undergraduate journeys and the beginning of exciting new chapters.

This year's graduating class includes Marta, Hannah, Sarah, Alvin, Christian, Kate, and Sam, each of whom has made meaningful contributions to the lab through their dedication to research, scientific curiosity, and commitment to learning. Whether at the bench, presenting research, mentoring fellow students, or contributing to the collaborative spirit of the lab, they have helped shape our community in countless ways.

Congratulations to our graduates on this well-deserved achievement. Thank you for being such an important part of the lab—we can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you! 🎉🎓🧪✨

🌴 Pernas Lab Retreat 2026: Science, Teamwork, and Questionable Grant Proposals

Earlier this month, the Pernas Lab escaped the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles for our annual lab retreat in beautiful Vista, California. For a few days, we traded conference rooms for a shared house, experiments for team-building activities, and takeout for home-cooked meals.

The retreat was an opportunity to step away from our day-to-day research and focus on what makes our lab special: the people. Through a series of activities and discussions, lab members shared their scientific journeys, previous research experiences, and unique skills. From microscopy experts and molecular biologists to grant-writing enthusiasts and troubleshooting masters, we learned more about the strengths each person brings to the team and explored ways to foster new collaborations within the lab.

Of course, no retreat would be complete without a little fun.

This year, the retreat committee unveiled an entirely new game created from scratch: Lightning Grants™. The rules were simple. Participants randomly drew a combination of organelles, model organisms, pathogens, technologies, and scientific goals, then had just minutes to develop and pitch a groundbreaking research proposal. Scientific rigor was optional; confidence was mandatory.

The resulting proposals pushed the boundaries of imagination. We witnessed researchers proposing to amputate crab claws in the name of discovery, weaponizing jellyfish in ways never intended by nature, and infecting mice with pathogens that probably should never have passed an IBC review. The creativity was impressive, the science was occasionally recognizable, and the presentations were delivered with a level of confidence usually reserved for Nobel lectures.

Who won the competition, you ask?

Well... only Reviewer #2 knows.

The retreat was filled with laughter, great food, scientific discussions, and a renewed sense of community. We returned to UCLA energized, inspired, and ready to tackle the next set of experiments—though perhaps with slightly fewer jellyfish-based grant proposals.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped organize the retreat and to all lab members for making it such a memorable experience. We are already looking forward to next year!

🎓 Celebrating Our 2026 Graduates!

This year, the lab had the pleasure of celebrating an incredible group of undergraduate researchers as they completed their degrees and prepared for the next chapter of their journeys.

We gathered together to recognize the hard work, dedication, and scientific contributions of Alvin, Christian, Hannah, Kate, Marta, Sam, and Sarah, all of whom graduated this year. Throughout their time in the lab, they contributed to a wide range of projects, learned new experimental and analytical skills, presented their research, and helped create the collaborative and supportive environment that defines our lab.

While we will miss seeing them around the lab, we are excited to watch them pursue new opportunities in graduate school, research programs, medicine, and beyond. Their accomplishments are a testament to their curiosity, perseverance, and commitment to scientific discovery.

Thank you, Alvin, Christian, Hannah, Kate, Marta, Sam, and Sarah, for everything you have contributed to the lab. We are proud of all that you have achieved and cannot wait to see what comes next.

Congratulations to our graduates—we wish you all the best in your future endeavors! 🎉🎓

Congratulations to Christian on Joining the WashU Post-Baccalaureate Program!

We are excited to announce that Christian has been accepted into the Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Washington University in St. Louis and will be joining the lab of David Pagliarini.

WashU’s post-baccalaureate program is designed to prepare students for advanced careers in medicine and biomedical research through rigorous coursework, individualized advising, and immersive research opportunities. The program is known for its strong mentorship and connections to leading medical and research institutions.

Christian will be working with the Pagliarini Lab, an interdisciplinary research group focused on understanding mitochondrial biology, metabolism, and the molecular basis of mitochondrial disease using approaches that combine biochemistry, genetics, proteomics, and cell biology.

This is an incredible opportunity for Christian to continue developing as a scientist and researcher in a world-class scientific environment. We are proud of all he has accomplished during his time in the lab and excited to see him take this next step in his career.

Congratulations, Christian! 🎓🧪

🎉 Welcome Xinhang to the Pernas Lab!

We are excited to welcome Xinhang, who is joining the Pernas Lab as a PhD student.

Xinhang holds an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis (2022–2024) and a B.Eng. in Electronic Engineering from ShanghaiTech University (2018–2022). Her background brings a strong interdisciplinary foundation spanning engineering and biomedical research.

Xinhang is broadly interested in understanding mitochondrial remodeling at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels during stress conditions, with a particular focus on how mitochondrial architecture and function are reshaped in response to cellular perturbations.

We are very happy to have Xinhang join the team and look forward to her contributions to ongoing projects in the lab.

Welcome to the Pernas Lab, Xinhang! 🎓

Congratulations to Rishik on Acceptance to the Mayo Clinic SURF Program!

We are excited to announce that Rishik has been accepted into the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program at the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Mayo Clinic SURF program is a highly competitive summer research fellowship that provides undergraduate students with immersive, hands-on training in biomedical research alongside world-class scientists and physician-scientists.

During the 10-week program, Rishik will conduct full-time research at the Phoenix Mayo Clinic, gaining exposure to cutting-edge biomedical science, mentorship opportunities, and a collaborative scientific community.

This achievement reflects Rishik’s dedication, scientific curiosity, and hard work, and we are incredibly proud to see him represent the lab in such a prestigious research program.

Please join us in congratulating Rishik on this exciting accomplishment! 🎓🧪

🎉 Congratulations to Marta and Hannah on Their Next Steps!

We are thrilled to celebrate two exciting milestones from our lab members as they take the next steps in their scientific careers.

Marta has been accepted into the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences at Oregon Health & Science University. This achievement reflects her dedication, hard work, and passion for science, and we are excited to see her continue her journey toward becoming an independent researcher.

Hannah has been accepted into the NIH IRTA Postbaccalaureate Program at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML). This highly competitive program at the National Institutes of Health provides recent graduates with immersive research training in a world-class scientific environment. At RML, Hannah will further develop her research skills and contribute to cutting-edge studies in infectious disease and immunology.

We are incredibly proud of both Marta and Hannah for these outstanding accomplishments. Their success is a testament to their talent and perseverance, and we look forward to seeing all they will achieve in the next stage of their careers.

Congratulations, Marta and Hannah! 🎓✨

Lena and Her Work Featured in The Scientist

We’re excited to share that Lena and her research have been featured in The Scientist, highlighting new perspectives on how microbes — including mitochondria — can be leveraged to combat infection.

The article, “Using Domesticated Microbes to Fight Infection,” explores the emerging idea that not all microbes are enemies. Instead, some, including those already living within our cells, can act as allies in host defense. In this context, Lena’s work is highlighted for uncovering how mitochondria, descendants of ancient bacteria, can actively contribute to host defense by competing with invading pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii for essential nutrients.

This feature underscores a growing shift in the field: rather than focusing solely on eliminating pathogens, researchers are exploring ways to enhance host-driven defenses and reshape the intracellular environment to limit infection.

We’re thrilled to see Lena’s work gaining recognition and contributing to this exciting and evolving area of research.

Read the feature in The Scientist:

Please join us in celebrating this exciting recognition!

🚨 New Preprint from the Lab — Featured in Nature News & Views

We are excited to share our latest preprint, now available on bioRxiv: Pathogen-induced formation of a nascent organelle derived from mitochondria.

In this study, we uncover a striking new mechanism by which the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii reprograms host mitochondria to generate a novel, infection-supporting organelle. Upon infection, host mitochondria shed large outer membrane–derived structures, termed SPOTs, which mature into acidified, multivesicular compartments. These compartments incorporate cytosolic material and host lysosomes through a process requiring both host ESCRT machinery and the parasite effector TgGRA7.

Importantly, SPOT acidification is critical for parasite growth, revealing a previously unrecognized strategy by which T. gondii reshapes host organelle biology to promote infection. More broadly, this work suggests that mitochondria can be reprogrammed to form new organelles with specialized functions.

We are especially excited that this study has already been highlighted in a News & Views article in Nature, underscoring the significance and broad interest of these findings:

Preprints allow us to share discoveries with the community ahead of peer review, and we’re thrilled to see this work already gaining attention.

Please join us in celebrating this exciting milestone! 🚀

Nelly Presents Her Poster at UCLA Microbiome Symposium

We are excited to share that Nelly presented her work as a poster at the 3rd Annual Goodman-Luskin Microbiome Center Symposium at UCLA.

This annual symposium brings together researchers, clinicians, and trainees to explore cutting-edge microbiome research, spanning topics from human health and disease to environmental and engineered microbial systems. The meeting serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange, highlighting the growing impact of microbial communities on immunity, metabolism, and overall health.

Nelly’s participation in the poster session provided an opportunity to share her research with a broad scientific audience, engage in discussions with experts across disciplines, and contribute to the vibrant UCLA microbiome research community.

Please join us in congratulating Nelly on representing the lab at this exciting event! 👏

👋 Welcome Jaewoo Choi to the Lab!

We are happy to welcome Jaewoo Choi, who has joined our lab as an undergraduate volunteer.

Jaewoo is currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics (2025–present), following his undergraduate studies in Biological Sciences at El Camino College (2022–2025). He is particularly interested in the mechanisms of mitochondrial membrane shedding.

In the lab, Jaewoo will be working alongside team members to gain hands-on research experience and contribute to ongoing projects.

Outside of research, he enjoys watching movies and listening to Cage The Elephant, and counts Interstellar as his favorite film.

We’re excited to have Jaewoo join the team and look forward to supporting his growth as a scientist. Welcome, Jaewoo!

Jose and Nick Present at Keystone Symposia on Innate Immunity

We are excited to share that our postdoctoral fellow Jose Delgado and PhD student Nick Coburn presented their work as posters at the Keystone Symposia: Innate Immunity: Diversity in Host Defense and Disease, held March 22–25, 2026 in Banff, Canada.

This Keystone Symposia meeting brings together leading scientists and trainees to explore the latest advances in innate immune mechanisms, including how cells detect infection, initiate inflammatory responses, and coordinate host defense.

Poster sessions at Keystone meetings are highly interactive and provide an important platform for sharing new research, receiving feedback, and building collaborations within the international immunology community.

Jose and Nick’s participation reflects the strength of their research and their contributions to advancing our understanding of host–pathogen interactions and immune regulation.

Please join us in congratulating Jose and Nick on representing the lab at this prestigious meeting!

🎤 Melissa Presents at the 4th Annual SoCal Metabolism Symposium

Congratulations to Melissa, who was selected to give a talk at the 4th Annual SoCal Metabolism Symposium, held on March 20, 2026 at Sanford Burnham Prebys in San Diego.

This annual symposium brings together the Southern California metabolism research community for a day of scientific exchange, networking, and collaboration. The meeting highlights cutting-edge research across a range of topics, including metabolic signaling, nutrient sensing, cancer metabolism, and metabolism in aging.

In addition to featuring leading scientists in the field, the symposium showcases trainee speakers, providing a platform for emerging researchers to present their work to a broad and engaged audience.

Melissa’s selection for a talk reflects both the quality and impact of her research, as well as her ability to communicate science effectively to the broader community. Presenting at this symposium is a fantastic opportunity to share new findings, receive feedback, and build connections within the Southern California metabolism field.

Please join us in congratulating Melissa on this exciting achievement! 👏

Welcome to the Pernas Lab, Elizabeth!

We are excited to welcome Elizabeth Turcotte as the newest postdoc of the Pernas Lab!

Elizabeth joins us after completing her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley (2018–2025). Prior to that, she was a Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow at the NIH (NICHD), where she studied mitosis in the lab of Dr. Mary Dasso. She earned her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Biochemistry from the University of Northern Iowa, where she worked on Leishmania with Dr. Nilda Rodriguez.

Elizabeth is broadly interested in how organelles interact with and sense pathogens and pathogen-encoded activities, making her a perfect fit for our group.

We are thrilled to have her bring her expertise and enthusiasm in our lab!

New preprint Alert: Social Exposure Primes Immunity

We are excited to share our latest preprint from our postdoc Wilson, Temitope Ademolue, now available on bioRxiv, which uncovers a previously unrecognized form of immune regulation in mammals driven by social exposure.

Social sensing of infection reprograms peripheral immunity in healthy mice.

In the study, Wilson and Lena asks whether mammals, like plants and insects, can mount protective immune responses based on exposure to infected neighbors. Using a mouse co-housing model, the they show that healthy mice living alongside conspecifics infected with the non-communicable parasite Toxoplasma gondii undergo a significant shift in peripheral immune responses — despite never being infected themselves!

This exposure to infected cage-mates establishes a primed immune state that enhances physiological resilience. Notably, exposed mice were better protected against a subsequent sublethal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammatory challenge. Mechanistically, this protection was mediated by increased IL-10 production from myeloid cells. Blocking IL-10 signaling eliminated the exposure-induced protection, demonstrating a key role for this anti-inflammatory pathway.

Together, these findings reveal that immune responses in healthy mammals can be shaped by social exposure to infected individuals, pointing to a form of social immunity previously thought to be restricted to plants and invertebrates. This work opens new avenues for understanding how social environments influence immune homeostasis and disease resilience.

📄 Read the preprint:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.28.702380v1

Please join us in congratulating Wilson on this exciting new work and in sharing this study with colleagues!

🎉 Congratulations to Lena on Receiving Tenure at UCLA!

We are thrilled to announce that Lena, our Principal Investigator, has officially been awarded tenure at UCLA.

Tenure is a major milestone in an academic career and reflects sustained excellence in research, teaching, and service, as well as a strong commitment to advancing the university’s mission. This achievement recognizes Lena’s impactful scientific contributions, leadership, and dedication to mentoring trainees and building a collaborative research environment.

Receiving tenure secures Lena’s long-term position at UCLA and provides the academic freedom to continue pursuing innovative and ambitious research directions. For our lab, this milestone marks an exciting moment of stability and growth as we look ahead to new discoveries, collaborations, and opportunities.

Please join us in congratulating Lena on this well-deserved accomplishment — we are proud to be part of her lab and excited for what’s to come! 🎓✨

Research Highlight: Chahat’s Work Featured in Trends in Parasitology!

A recent highlight of Chahat’s work has been published in Trends in Parasitology, showcasing new insights into how Toxoplasma gondii interfaces with host cell organelles to support intracellular survival.

The article discusses recent studies by Chahat Mehra et al. and Romano et al., revealing that T. gondii actively connects its parasitophorous vacuole (PV) to the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Rather than disrupting vacuolar integrity, the parasite employs a secretory relay involving dense granule and rhoptry effectors to establish specialized membrane contact sites between the PV and the ER.

These contact sites allow T. gondii to access host-derived metabolites while maintaining the protective barrier of the parasitophorous vacuole — a strategy that highlights the parasite’s remarkable ability to remodel host cell architecture for its own benefit. This work advances our understanding of host–pathogen interactions and identifies new conceptual frameworks for studying metabolic exchange during intracellular infection.

We congratulate Chahat on this impactful contribution to the field and on having this work featured in Trends in Parasitology, a leading journal in parasitology research!

Congratulations to Christian — Selected for Poster Presentation at the National Collegiate Research Conference!

We are thrilled to announce that Christian has been selected to present a poster at the National Collegiate Research Conference (NCRC), to be held in January 2026 at Harvard University!

NCRC is the largest student-run undergraduate research conference in the United States, bringing together hundreds of talented student researchers from over 100 universities around the world. The conference provides a platform for undergraduate students across disciplines — including the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and humanities — to share their research, engage with peers and mentors, and participate in a vibrant community of young scholars.

We are incredibly proud of Christian’s scientific accomplishments and excitement for the opportunities this experience will bring. Presenting at NCRC is not only a chance to highlight his work but also to contribute to a national conversation on cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary inquiry.

Please join us in congratulating Christian on this outstanding achievement! 🎓👏

Lena is Accepted as a Member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC)

We are delighted to announce that Lena, has been accepted as a member of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC).

The JCCC is an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center and a highly collaborative research community that brings together investigators with a strong and sustained commitment to cancer research. Membership is granted through a competitive review process and recognizes investigators with impactful cancer-focused research programs, strong publication records, and active engagement in advancing cancer science and patient care.

As a JCCC member, Lena joins a multidisciplinary network of cancer researchers across UCLA and partner institutions, with access to JCCC shared resources, collaborative research programs, and cancer-focused scientific initiatives. Membership also reflects a commitment to contributing to the JCCC mission through research excellence, training, and service to the broader cancer research community.

This milestone recognizes Lena’s leadership and the lab’s growing contributions to immunity and cancer research. We look forward to the new collaborative opportunities this affiliation will bring and to continuing to advance our work within the JCCC community.

Please join us in congratulating Lena on this achievement!