Syllabus
1. Adaptation of metabolism of parasites to the host - oxidative stress, anaerobiosis, host-parasite competition for essential substances
2. Metabolism of selected anaerobic unicellular parasites – Entamoeba, Trichomonas, Giardia; effects of chemotherapeutics
3. Metabolism of selected unicellular parasites – trypanosomes, leishmanias; effects of chemotherapeutics
4. Metabolic specificity of intracellular parasitism – Trypanosoma cruzi, Plasmodium spp.
5. Metabolism of selected multicellular parasites – helminths, invertebrate parasites
6. Unusual properties of genetic information of parasitic protists – genome size, organellar genomes, splicing, and editing
7. Diagnosis of parasitic infections by molecular biology methods – PCR, ELISA
8. Entering of parasites into the host, its tissues and cells – molecular and biochemical mechanisms
9. Escape strategies of parasites – intracellular parasitism, molecular mimicry, antigenic variability
10. Host manipulation by parasites – influencing the immune system, changes in host metabolism, behavioral changes
11. Parasites as model organisms – possibilities of studying parasites in laboratory conditions
Annotation
The course (lecture / practical course) focused on biochemical pathways and specific aspects of the molecular biology of selected important human parasites particularly regarding pathways important for survival and fitness of parasites during its contact with host. Moreover, the course will cover the molecular diagnostics and biochemical aspects of employed chemotherapeutics.