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Lecturer(s)
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Jalovecká Marie, RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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The program of the course will be annually modified according to current trends in parasitological research and available guest lecturers. Content of lectures in summer semester 2023: 1. Immune defense and parasite evasion strategies: The role of tick salivary serpins in the modulation of host's immune system 2. Parasite biodiversity study: Environmental DNA metabarcoding as a tool for parasite biodiversity monitoring 3. tRNAs biology: Nature of tRNAs 4. Parasitic mitochondria biology I: Maintain hundreds to make one: Close-up view of molecular machines in trypanosomal mitochondria 5. Parasitic mitochondria biology II: 6. Symbiosis and host-bacteria dynamics in bloodsucking insects 7. Molecular phylogenetics, phylogenomics, and molecular ecology of parasites 8. Free-living organisms as a tool to study parasitism evolution: Evolution of Apicomplexan parasites 9. Molecular biology and physiology of mosquitoes 10. Regulatory mechanisms of Plasmodium replication, motility of Plasmodium sporozoites 11. Metabolism of blood-feeding arthropods 12. Parasites as therapeutics of autoimmune diseases
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Individual tutoring
- Preparation for classes
- 20 hours per semester
- Class attendance
- 24 hours per semester
- Preparation for exam
- 40 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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Students are provided with an overview of current trends in parasitological research incl. a detailed description of innovative methodological approaches, the latest knowledge of the fundamental biological features of parasitic organisms and their practical application, and current trends in the development of vaccines and drugs against medically important parasitic diseases/agents.
Knowledge of current/modern approaches in parasitological research and significant discoveries in the field of recent parasitology. Knowledge about host defence strategies against parasites and the potential use of parasitic organisms in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Knowledge of modern strategies in the development of anti-parasitic drugs or vaccines, incl. mechanisms of parasite resistance, and the interconnection of these strategies with metabolic and signalling pathways in parasite-host systems. Knowledge of principles of genetic engineering methods used in the study of parasitic organisms. Knowledge of the development of the parasitic way of life, and the importance of field parasitology in the "genomic era". Knowledge of the principles of molecular phylogenetics, phylogenomics and molecular ecology of parasites. Knowledge of host-bacterial symbiotic relationships in the model of blood-sucking insects. Knowledge of in vitro and in vivo culture systems of various parasites.
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Prerequisites
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Specialized course for doctoral students in English - the target group are particular students who are using parasitic organisms in their research and are interested in up-to-date trends in parasitology. The course requires basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology (e.g. KBI / BIO01 or KBM / 250 course) and biochemistry (e.g. UCH / 757). Knowledge of basic methods of molecular biology is an advantage (e.g. KMB / 408). The knowledge obtained from the specialized parasitological courses - Biology of Parasitic Protozoa (KPA / 480), Biology of Parasitic Arthropods (KPA / 486) and Helminth Biology (KPA / 484) are the advantage.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Colloquium
To successfully complete the course students are required to: 1. Actively participate and present on a selected topic within the "Journal Club"
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Recommended literature
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Trends in Parasitology Journal - selected publications. Cell Press.
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Archibald, John M., Simpson, Alastair G.B., Slamovits, Claudio H. Handbook of the Protists. Springer, 2017. ISBN 978-3-319-28147-6.
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Bromham, Lindell (Ed.). An introduction to molecular evolution and phylogenetics.. Oxford University Press, 2016. ISBN 978-0-19-873636-.
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David P. Hughes, Jacques Brodeur, Frédéric Thomas. Host manipulation by parasites.. Oxford, 2012. ISBN 978-0-19-964223-6.
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Lamb, Tracey (Ed.). Immunity to Parasitic Infection.. Wiley, 2012. ISBN 978-0-470-97247-2.
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Lucius R., Loos-Frank B., Lane R.P., Poulin R., Roberts C.W., Grencis R. K. (Eds.). The Biology of Parasites.. Wiley, 2017. ISBN 978-3-527-32848-2.
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Morand, Serge, Krasnov, Boris R., Littlewood, Timothy D.J. (Eds.). Parasite Diversity and Diversification: Evolutionary Ecology Meets Phylogenetics.. Cambridge University Press, 2015. ISBN 978-1107037656.
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