Parasitology, Microbiology and Infection Control

Experimental Immunoparasitology

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The main topics covered are the physiology, immunology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of eukaryotic parasites, and the interaction between the parasite and its host, including chemotherapy against parasites.

The diseases caused by these parasites constitute major human health problems throughout the world. The incidence of many parasitic diseases (eg. schistosomiasis, malaria) have increased rather than decreased in recent years. Other parasitic illnesses have increased in importance as a result of the AIDS epidemic (eg., cryptosporidiosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and strongyloidiasis).Like other pathogens, parasites must survive in the face of a highly potent immune system. Over millions of years of evolution, they succeed in this through a great diversity of strategies for avoiding immune detection, suppressing cellular immunity and deflecting immune attack mechanisms.

Similarly hosts have evolved resistance in various ways to overcome their entry and existence. Host- parasite interactions provide fascinating examples of evolutionary 'arms-races' in which the immune system plays a key role.The main topics covered are the physiology, immunology, biochemistry, and molecular biology of eukaryotic parasites, and the interaction between the parasite and its host, including chemotherapy against parasites.

The diseases caused by these parasites constitute major human health problems throughout the world. The incidence of many parasitic diseases (eg. schistosomiasis, malaria) have increased rather than decreased in recent years. Other parasitic illnesses have increased in importance as a result of the AIDS epidemic (eg., cryptosporidiosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, and strongyloidiasis).Like other pathogens, parasites must survive in the face of a highly potent immune system. Over millions of years of evolution, they succeed in this through a great diversity of strategies for avoiding immune detection, suppressing cellular immunity and deflecting immune attack mechanisms.

Similarly hosts have evolved resistance in various ways to overcome their entry and existence. Host- parasite interactions provide fascinating examples of evolutionary 'arms-races' in which the immune system plays a key role.