Research Interests
Cell Biology Host-Parasite Interactions Medical Parasitology Microbiology MicroscopyBenjamin Liffner
Office of Science
College of Science
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Ben completed all his tertiary studies at the University of Adelaide, including a PhD with Danny Wilson (2017-2020), where he studied the invasion of malaria parasites into host cells. In 2021, Ben moved to Indiana University School of Medicine for a postdoctoral position with Sabrina Absalon, where he studied mitosis in malaria parasites, continuing to build a background in cell biology. Throughout his research, Ben has explored cell biology through the application and development of emerging microscopy techniques. By coupling fundamental cell biology with cutting-edge microscopy, Ben has enabled new avenues of research within parasite biology. In June 2024, Ben returned to The University of Adelaide where he is working to decipher the molecular mechanisms that underpin cell organisation in malaria parasites along with the gastrointestinal parasite Cryptosporidium.
The structure and organisation of a eukaryotic cell dictates its functions. This leads to the tremendous diversity we see in cellular architechtures across the eukaryotic tree of life. I study single-celled eukaryotic parasites including Plasmodium, the cause of malaria, and Cryptosporidium a significant pathogen of humans and livestock. These parasites infect half a billion people annually, and current treatments to stop disease are either losing efficacy, or cause significant side-effects. These parasites have specialised lifecycle stages for invading their host cells, called zoites. Zoites are highly structured and polarised, with their apical end containing all the organelles required for host cell invasion. For most of their lifecycle, however, these parasites are not highly organised and lack obvious cellular polarity. Through my research we aim to understand how these parasites create order from disorder. We use cutting-edge microscopy approaches to visualise parasites, observe how they build their highly organised zoite stages, and investigate what happens when we perturb key regulators of these processes. These insights are key for understanding basic parasite cell biology, and may unlock avenues for development of novel antiparasitc therapeutics.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Senior Research Associate | University of Adelaide |
| 2021 - 2024 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Indiana University School of Medicine |
| 2019 - 2019 | Research Exchange | Centre for Structural Systems Biology |
| 2018 - 2018 | Research Exchange | Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Award | ECR Award | Australian Society for Microbiology | Australia | - |
| 2025 | Award | ECR Award | Lorne Infection & Immunity (Victorian Infection & Immunity Network) | Australia | - |
| 2025 | Award | Kat Gaus Award | Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society | Australia | - |
| 2024 | Award | Best Oral Presentation | Molecular Approaches to Malaria | Australia | - |
| 2023 | Award | Mentorship award | Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology | United States | - |
| 2023 | Award | Best Poster | Molecular Parasitology Meeting | United States | - |
| 2022 | Award | Best Oral Presentation | Molecular Parasitology Meeting | United States | - |
| 2021 | Award | Most Outstanding Postdoctoral Researcher | Indiana University School of Medicine | United States | - |
| 2021 | Award | Best oral presentation | Molecular Parasitology Meeting | United States | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The University of Adelaide | Australia | Doctor of Philosophy |
| The University of Adelaide | Australia | BSc (Honours) | |
| The University of Adelaide | Australia | BSc (Biomedical Science) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Liffner, B. (2025). mSphere of Influence: The ever-expanding universe of parasite cell biology. Msphere, 10(3), 4 pages. |
| 2025 | Alves e Silva, T. L., Kanatani, S., Barletta Ferreira, A. B., Schwartz, C. L., Liffner, B., Talyuli, O. A. C., . . . Vega-Rodriguez, J. (2025). High-resolution proteomics unveils salivary gland disruption and saliva-hemolymph protein exchange in Plasmodium-infected mosquitoes. Nature Communications, 16(1), 10205. |
| 2024 | de Almeida Lopes, C., Wang, J., Liffner, B., Absalon, S., & Gazzinelli-Guimaraes, P. H. (2024). Ascaris Mouse Model Protocols: Advancing Research on Larval Ascariasis Biology. Current Protocols, 4(6), 30 pages. Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC1 |
| 2024 | Li, J., Shami, G. J., Liffner, B., Cho, E., Braet, F., Duraisingh, M. T., . . . Tilley, L. (2024). Disruption of Plasmodium falciparum kinetochore proteins destabilises the nexus between the centrosome equivalent and the mitotic apparatus. Nature Communications, 15(1), 5794-1-5794-16. Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC11 |
| 2024 | Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2024). Expansion microscopy of apicomplexan parasites. Molecular Microbiology, 121(4), 619-635. Scopus18 WoS19 Europe PMC24 |
| 2023 | Liffner, B., Cepeda Diaz, A. K., Blauwkamp, J., Anaguano, D., Frölich, S., Muralidharan, V., . . . Absalon, S. (2023). Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy.. bioRxiv. |
| 2023 | Liffner, B., Cepeda Diaz, A. K., Blauwkamp, J., Anaguano, D., Frolich, S., Muralidharan, V., . . . Absalon, S. (2023). Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. eLife, 12, 1-39. Scopus38 WoS35 Europe PMC57 |
| 2022 | Liffner, B., Balbin, J. M., Shami, G. J., Siddiqui, G., Strauss, J., Frölich, S., . . . Wilson, D. W. (2022). Cell biological analysis reveals an essential role for Pfcerli2 in erythrocyte invasion by malaria parasites. Communications Biology, 5(1), 121-1-121-17. Scopus8 WoS9 Europe PMC15 |
| 2022 | Wichers, J. S., Mesen-Ramirez, P., Fuchs, G., Yu-Strzelczyk, J., Staecker, J., von Thien, H., . . . Strauss, J. (2022). PMRT1, a Plasmodium-Specific Parasite Plasma Membrane Transporter, Is Essential for Asexual and Sexual Blood Stage Development. MBIO, 13(2), 20 pages. Scopus10 WoS9 Europe PMC11 |
| 2022 | Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2022). Hand-in-hand advances in microscopy and Plasmodium nuclear biology. Trends in Parasitology, 38(6), 421-423. Scopus2 WoS3 Europe PMC4 |
| 2021 | Ferreira, J. L., Heincke, D., Wichers, J. S., Liffner, B., Wilson, D. W., & Gilberger, T. W. (2021). The Dynamic Roles of the Inner Membrane Complex in the Multiple Stages of the Malaria Parasite. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 10, 1-12. Scopus47 WoS46 Europe PMC51 |
| 2021 | Liffner, B., Balbin, J. M., Wichers, J. S., Gilberger, T. -W., & Wilson, D. W. (2021). The Ins and Outs of Plasmodium Rhoptries, Focusing on the Cytosolic Side.. Trends in parasitology, 37(7), 638-650. Scopus8 WoS9 Europe PMC12 |
| 2021 | Wichers, J. S., Mesén-Ramírez, P., Fuchs, G., Yu-Strzelczyk, J., Stäcker, J., von Thien, H., . . . Strauss, J. (2021). PMRT1, a<i>Plasmodium</i>specific parasite plasma membrane transporter is essential for asexual and sexual blood stage development. |
| 2021 | Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2021). Expansion Microscopy Reveals <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> Blood-Stage Parasites Undergo Anaphase with A Chromatin Bridge in the Absence of Mini-Chromosome Maintenance Complex Binding Protein. MICROORGANISMS, 9(11), 20 pages. Scopus48 WoS49 Europe PMC73 |
| 2020 | Geiger, M., Brown, C., Wichers, J. S., Strauss, J., Lill, A., Thuenauer, R., . . . Gilberger, T. W. (2020). Structural insights into PfARO and characterization of its interaction with PfAIP. Journal of Molecular Biology, 432(4), 878-896. Scopus18 WoS17 Europe PMC20 |
| 2020 | Liffner, B., Frolich, S., Heinemann, G. K., Liu, B., Ralph, S. A., Dixon, M. W. A., . . . Wilson, D. W. (2020). PfCERLI1 is a conserved rhoptry associated protein essential for Plasmodium falciparum merozoite invasion of erythrocytes. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1411-1-1411-14. Scopus22 WoS22 Europe PMC27 |
| 2020 | Burda, P. -C., Crosskey, T., Lauk, K., Zuborg, A., Sohnchen, C., Liffner, B. S., . . . Gilberger, T. (2020). Structure-Based Identification and Functional Characterization of a Lipocalin in the Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Cell Reports, 31(12), 1-7. Scopus23 WoS22 Europe PMC27 |
| 2020 | Burns, A. L., Sleebs, B. E., Siddiqui, G., De Paoli, A. E., Anderson, D., Liffner, B., . . . Wilson, D. W. (2020). Retargeting azithromycin analogues to have dual-modality antimalarial activity. BMC Biology, 18(1), 133-1-133-23. Scopus17 WoS13 Europe PMC17 |
| 2019 | Wichers, J. S., Scholz, J. A. M., Strauss, J., Witt, S., Lill, A., Ehnold, L. I., . . . Bachmann, A. (2019). Dissecting the gene expression, localization, membrane topology, and function of the plasmodium falciparum STEVOR protein family. mBio, 10(4), e01500-1-e01500-19. Scopus41 WoS44 Europe PMC47 |
| 2019 | Liffner, B., Frölich, S., Heinemann, G., Liu, B., Dixon, M., Gilberger, T. -W., & Wilson, D. (2019). PfCERLI1, a conserved rhoptry associated protein essential for invasion by Plasmodium falciparum merozoites. |
| - | Liffner, B., Silva, T. L. A. E., Vega-Rodriguez, J., & Absalon, S. (2024). Mosquito Tissue Ultrastructure-Expansion Microscopy (MoTissU-ExM) enables ultrastructural and anatomical analysis of malaria parasites and their mosquito. BMC Methods, 1(1). |
| - | Liffner, B., Cepeda Diaz, A. K., Blauwkamp, J., Anaguano, D., Frolich, S., Muralidharan, V., . . . Absalon, S. (2023). Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. eLife, 12. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Absalon, S., & Liffner, B. (2023). Decoding New Players in Plasmodium Nuclear Biology using Expansion Microscopy. In JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY Vol. 299 (pp. S794). WA, Seattle: ELSEVIER. DOI |
| 2021 | Liffner, B. S., & Absalon, S. (2021). A KINASE THAT COORDINATES NUCLEAR ABSCISSION IN THE MALARIA PARASITE PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE Vol. 105 (pp. 448). AMER SOC TROP MED & HYGIENE. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Liffner, B., Alves e Silva, T. L., Glennon, E., Primavera, V., Hoffman, E., Kaushansky, A., . . . Absalon, S. (2025). Unlocking new understanding of <i>Plasmodium</i> sporozoite biology with expansion microscopy. DOI |
| 2024 | Liffner, B., Alves e Silva, T. L., Vega-Rodriguez, J., & Absalon, S. (2024). Mosquito Tissue Ultrastructure-Expansion Microscopy (MoTissU-ExM) enables ultrastructural and anatomical analysis of malaria parasites and their mosquito. DOI |
| 2023 | Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2023). Expansion microscopy of apicomplexan parasites. DOI |
| 2023 | Liffner, B., Cepeda Diaz, A. K., Blauwkamp, J., Anaguano, D., Frölich, S., Muralidharan, V., . . . Absalon, S. (2023). Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. DOI |
| 2023 | Liffner, B., Cepeda Diaz, A. K., Blauwkamp, J., Anaguano, D., Frölich, S., Muralidharan, V., . . . Absalon, S. (2023). Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy. DOI |
| 2022 | Calla, J., Mittal, N., LaMonte, G., Liffner, B., Godinez-Macias, K., Carolino, K., . . . Winzeler, E. (2022). Plasmodium exoerythrocytic parasites redirect trafficking of human proteins to the parasitophorous vacuole. DOI |
| 2021 | Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2021). Expansion microsopy reveals <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> blood-stage parasites undergo anaphase with a chromatin bridge in the absence of mini-chromosome maintenance complex binding protein. DOI Europe PMC7 |
| 2020 | Burda, P. -C., Crosskey, T., Lauk, K., Zurborg, A., Söhnchen, C., Liffner, B., . . . Gilberger, T. -W. (2020). Structure-based identification and functional characterization of an essential lipocalin in the malaria parasite<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>. DOI |
| 2020 | Liffner, B., Balbin, J. M., Shami, G., Strauss, J., Frölich, S., Heinemann, G., . . . Wilson, D. (2020). <i>Pfcerli2</i>, a duplicated gene in the malaria parasite<i>Plasmodium falciparum</i>essential for invasion of erythrocytes as revealed by phylogenetic and cell biological analysis. DOI |
2024 - 2027: Australian Research Council Discovery Project ($529,832)
2024 - 2027: University of Adelaide Future Making Fellowship ($393,093)
2022 - 2024: American Heart Association, postdoctoral fellowship ($210,000)
2023: Indiana Clinical & Translational Sciencies Institute, postdoctoral challenge ($7,500)
2018 - 2020: Commonwealth Scholarship ($14,500)
2018 - 2019 Hans Jürgen & Marianne Ohff Research Grant ($1892)
2018 - 2019 Australia-Germany Universities Australia-DAAD Joint Research Co-operation Scheme ($10,500)
2025: Infection & Immunity IIIA - Cryptosporidium lecturer
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2021 | Representative | SA/NT Branch | Australian Society for Microbiology | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 - 2024 | Member | Indiana University School of Medicine Postdoctoral Association | Indiana University School of Medicine | United States |
| 2021 - 2023 | Member | ACMCIP Trainee Team | American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene | United States |
| 2019 - 2021 | Representative | Faculty Board | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Title | Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | ad hoc reviewer | Grant Assessment | UK Research and Innovation, Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | ad hoc Journal reviewer | Peer Review | Multiple | - |