dr. Mamadou Amadou Diallo (PhD)

Postdoctoral Researcher - Unit of Molecular Signaling and Cell Death, VIB Center for Inflammation Research, Ghent, Belgium
Principal investigator: prof. Jonathan Maelfait (PhD)
Research focus
The left-handed conformation Z-DNA/Z-RNA is now well recognized as being crucial in innate immunity, as proteins with Zα domains (ZBP) recognize them as a pathogen and damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs). Although Z-DNA and Z-RNA are ligands of Zα domains, the mechanisms leading to their formation under physiological conditions are still questioned: where, when, and how Z-shapes are generated and how they participate in the function of Z-DNA binding proteins (ZBPs) is not clear yet. The two human ZBPs (ADAR1 and ZBP1) are emerging as key players in inflammation and cell death. Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms of the sensing of endogenous Z-nucleic acids and also in the context of viral infection. My objective lies in the biophysical characterization of ZBP1 activation. I study how Z-nucleic acids interact with ZBP1 and how this interaction induces the state changes of the protein to trigger ZBP1 activation and cell death.
Contact & links
Lab address
Vandenabeele Unit - Molecular Signaling and Cell Death
VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research
Nucleic acid immunity lab - Jonathan Maelfait lab
Fiers-Schell-Van Montagu building
Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 71
B-9052 Ghent, BelgiumMamadou Amadou Diallo is interested to receive invitations for presentations or talks