RESEARCH
ACTIVITIES ARE FOCUSED IN FOUR MAJOR AREAS
(1)
Cellular, molecular and biochemical interactions between the host and parasite
(a) Iron
acquisition and its effect on infections with parasitic Protozoa
(b) Lectins
involved in parasite interactions with vectors and intermediate hosts and
their effects on parasite development and transmission
(c) Biology
of Microspora and their interaction with the host cell
(2)
Metabolism of parasitic Protozoa, mode of action of antiparasitic drugs and
mechanisms of drug resistance
(a) Hydrogenosomes
and nitroimidazole resistance
(b) Antimicrotubular
drugs and cytoskeleton of protozoan parasites
(3)
Immunosuppressive effect of saliva of bloodsucking insects
(4)
Molecular phylogenetics of parasitic protists
MAIN
ORGANISMS STUDIED
Trichomonads,
Giardia and other metamonads, heteroxenous coccidia and trypanosomes
of birds, Leishmania-Phlebotomus interactions, snail-trematode
interactions, Trichobilharzia, Diplostomum, triatomid bugs,
lice