The Microbiology Seminar Series continued on February 3rd with a distinguished presentation by Dr. Scott Landfear, Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the OHSU School of Medicine, titled “Trafficking of Membrane Proteins to the Leishmania Flagellum – An Unfolding Odyssey”. Renowned for his work on nutrient transporters in kinetoplastid parasites, Dr. Landfear brought decades of expertise to this week’s seminar, offering attendees an in-depth look at one of the most intriguing aspects of Leishmania cell biology. Dr. Landfear’s lecture explored the complex mechanisms that direct membrane proteins to the flagellum of Leishmania, a pathogenic parasite which has a significant global burden. Through this seminar, Dr. Landfear guided attendees on an “unfolding odyssey” of discovery— highlighting recent insights and experimental approaches that reveal how membrane protein trafficking contributes to parasite biology. These trafficking mechanisms may be critical for the parasite's ability to sense and respond to environmental changes.