TEACHING ACTIVITIES

M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses are directed towards studies of principles of host parasite relationships. The subject includes organismal parasitology (biology of parasitic Protozoa and helminths, medical entomology), cell biology and biochemistry of parasites, parasite immunology, pathology and epidemiology of parasitic infections. Strong emphasis is placed on synthesis of biochemical and molecular approaches of the study of parasitism with the knowledge and understanding of the organisms involved. Students are given practical training in methods, identification of parasites, and participate in a Parasitology Field Course. The parasitology unit participates in the Postgraduate Program in Biomedicine and its research and teaching potential is strenghtened by close cooperation with the Department of Tropical Medicine of the 1st Faculty of Medicine.

 

COURSES

UG-for undergraduate students, G-for graduate students, L-lectures, P-practical courses

Introduction to Parasitology (UG). Principles of parasitology and introduction to main representatives of parasitic protozoa, helminths and arthropodes (L,P - Milena Svobodova, Jan Votypka)

Parasitological Laboratory Techniques (UG). Basic parasitological laboratory methods including cultivation techniques, staining procedures, immunologic and diagnostic methods. (P - Ivan Hrdý et al.)

Biology of Parasitic Protozoa (G). An advanced course dealing with taxonomy, phylogeny, structure, fine structure, life cycles and host-parasite relationship of protozoan parasites of man and animals including invertebrates. (L - Jan Tachezy, Jiri Vavra)

Parasitic Protozoa (G). An advanced laboratory course dealing with determination of parasitic protozoa, interpretation of electron micrographs, special protozoological techniques and laboratory diagnosis of protozoal infections. (P - Jaroslav Kulda et al.)

Medical Entomology (G). An advanced course dealing with parasitic and venomous arthropods and vectors of infection diseases with emphasis on their biology, determination and importance in human and veterinary medicine. (L - Petr Volf)

Medical Entomology (G). An advanced course dealing with determination, morphology and anatomy of parasitic arthropods. (P - Jan Votypka)

Field Parasitology (G). Field survey techniques, collection and determination of parasitic protozoa, helminths and arhropods including parasites of small mammals, birds, amphibians and fish. Ten days in the field followed by laboratory examination of collected specimens. (P - Jan Votýpka, Milena Svobodova and Libor Mikeš)

Biology of Helminths (G). An advanced course on the biology and morphology of parasitic helminths. (L - Petr Horak)

Parasitic Helminths (G). An advanced laboratory course dealing with anatomy, morphology and ultrastructure of parasitic helminths, laboratory maintenance of helminths and laboratory diagnosis of helminthoses. (P - Libor Mikes)

Cellular and molecular basis of the host-parasite relationships (G). Cell biology of parasites, cellular and molecular interactions between the host and parasite. (P - Jaroslav Kulda, Petr Horak)

Biochemistry of Parasites (G). Biochemical properties of parasitic protozoa and helminths. Comparative treatment of metabolic pathways of parasites and their hosts relevant to targeted chemotherapy. (L,P - Ivan Hrdy)

Parasite Epidemiology (G). Introduction to general principles of epidemiology; special epidemiology of parasitic diseases of humans. (L - Petr Kodym)

Medical Parasitology (G). Important parasitic diseases of humans with emphasis on modes of transmission and biology of pathogens and vectors. Course for medical students. (L - Jaroslav Kulda, Libor Mikeš, Petr Horak)

Pathology of Parasitic Infections (G). Introduction to pathological morphology and special pathology; pathology of selected parasitic diseases of humans and animals. (L,P - Bretislav Koudela)

Parasite Immunology (G). Immunology of important parasitic diseases of humans and domestic animals. (L - Jaroslav Flegr, Jan Kopecký, Petr Volf).

Theoretic and evolutionary parasitology (G). Basic course of theoretic and evolutionary parasitology, including survey of basic techniques of theoretical biology (mathematical and statistical methods of data analysis). (L - Jaroslav Flegr)

Evolutionary Biology (UG). Basic course of evolutionary biology. Macroevolution, microevolution, protobiology and sociobiology. (L - Jaroslav Flegr)

Electron Microscopy (G). Principles and basic techniques of transmission and scanning electron microscopy. (P - Jana Nebesářová, Miroslav Hylis)

Molecular Taxonomy (G). Introduction to molecular taxonomy. Basic biochemical and molecular biological techniques. Methods of data analysis. Software for molecular taxonomy. (L,P - Jaroslav Flegr, Vladimir Hampl)

Computational Genomics (G). An intensive course combining lectures and computer laboratory sessions focused on principal methods used in analysis and interpretation of nucleotide sequencing data in biology and phylogenetics. (L,P - Marc Van Ranst, Jan Tachezy)

Practical Methodology of Science (UG). Basic course of general and special methodology. (L - Jaroslav Flegr)

Parasites of Fish (G). Field survey techniques and determination of parasitic protozoa, helminths and arthropods of fish. Two days in the field. (P - Jan Tachezy et al.)