Benjamin 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 malariaand 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.
DOI
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.
DOI
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.
DOI 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.
DOI Scopus7 WoS6 Europe PMC11
2024 Liffner, B., & Absalon, S. (2024). Expansion microscopy of apicomplexan parasites. Molecular Microbiology, 121(4), 619-635.
DOI 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.
DOI
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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI
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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI 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.
DOI
- 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).
DOI
- 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.
DOI

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 -

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