Course: Biochemistry and molecular biology of parasites

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Course title Biochemistry and molecular biology of parasites
Course code KPA/175
Organizational form of instruction Lecture
Level of course Doctoral
Year of study not specified
Frequency of the course In academic years starting an odd year (e.g. 2020/2021), in the summer semester.
Semester Summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction English
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Course availability The course is available to visiting students
Lecturer(s)
  • Jalovecká Marie, RNDr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. Introduction and model species: the content of the course, characteristics of the most important model parasitic organisms - protists, helminths and arthropods - used to study their typical molecular and biochemical phenomena. 2. - 3. Genomes and their diversity: overview and practical example of work with online genomic databases for model parasitic organisms, genomic organization of model parasites incl. unique adaptations (e.g. genome reorganization in Ciliophora conjugation, etc.), characterization of organelle genomes (mitogenomes + genomes of mitochondrial derivatives, apicolast genome, structure and function of kinetoplast + RNA editing mechanism), alternative splicing in helminths. 4. Methods of genetic engineering in parasitic organisms: general principles of genome editing and their application to parasitic model organisms, the most common methods of editing at the level of DNA (knock-out systems), RNA (knock-down systems incl. RNA interference) and proteins in parasitic organisms . 5. Antigenic variation: general principles of antigenic variability and an overview of different mechanisms of antigenic variability in model parasites (Giardia, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, etc.). 6. Evolution of parasitism in the Apicomplexa and the method of their invasion into the host cell: an overview of the development of the apical complex, its characteristics and the molecular mechanism of invasion into the host cell. 7.- 8. Energy metabolism of parasitic protists and helminths: an overview of classical pathways of energy metabolism, alterations of the energy mechanism in parasites - energy metabolism in various developmental stages of Trypanosomes incl. characteristics of the glycosome, energy metabolism of anaerobic parasites incl. characteristics of hydrogenosomes and mitosomes (e.g. Trichomonas, Blastocystis, Giardia, Entamoeba, Plasmodium, etc.), energy metabolism of helminths with emphasis on differences between adults and larvae. 9. -10. Metabolism of blood-sucking arthropods: basic overview of biological, biochemical and immune mechanisms enabling blood-sucking arthropods to suck and digest blood, signaling pathways determining the ability of arthropods to lay eggs and to reproduce, protein-protein interactions of salivary arthropod proteins with host proteins in the blood, adaptation of blood-sucing arthropods for profit and systemic distribution of the host heme. 11. Anti-parasitic treatment and potential therapeutic interventions: overview of the most common drugs used to treat parasitic diseases (caused by protists, helminths and arthropods) and molecular or biochemical mechanisms of their action, current trends in anti-parasitic treatment (proteasome inhibitors, molecular inhibitors in signaling pathways, redox imbalance and heme metabolism). Bonus talk - Criteria for the development of anti-parasitic drugs: mechanisms indicating the specificity of small molecules in the context of biological mechanisms. 12. Journal club: presentation of students to a selected (thematically related to the issues discussed in the course) professional article from the journal Trends in Parasitology (part of the exam).

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing), Dialogic (discussion, interview, brainstorming), Individual tutoring
  • Class attendance - 24 hours per semester
  • Preparation for classes - 30 hours per semester
Learning outcomes
The objective of the course is to provide students with the knowledge of structural and functional biochemistry and molecular biology of parasitic organisms - protozoa, helminths and arthropods, with the respect to their medial relevance. The course focuses mainly on general strategies of energy metabolism - protists, helminths and blood-feeding arthropods, and introduces typical molecular phenomena in parasitic organisms - such as genomic organization, RNA editing, antigenic variation, evolution of parasitism and unique mechanisms of host cell invasion. The aim of the course is also to provide students with the knowledge of basic principles of genome editing in parasitic organisms and the biochemical-molecular principles of the most common antiparasitic drugs mechanism of action. Specialized course for doctoral students in English. The course is an English version of the KPA/487. The target group are particularly foreign students investigating biochemistry or molecular biology of parasitic organisms.
Knowledge of specialized structures and functional biochemical processes of organisms adapted to parasitic way of life. Knowledge of energetic processes of blood digestion of blood-feeding arthropods. Knowledge of organization and function of specialized organelles of parasites (apicoplast, glycosomes, hydrogenosomes). Knowledge of unique processes related to RNA editing and regulation of gene expression of parasitic organisms. Knowledge of basic methods of genetic engineering and their application to parasitic orgainsms. Knowledge of different molecular mechanisms of antigenic variation in parasitic organisms. Knowledge of the evolution of parasitism in parasites of the Apicomplexa group and the way of their unique invasion into the host cell. Knowledge of the molecular or biochemical mechanism of action of the most common parasitic therapeutics and new directions in the development of antiparasitic therapy.
Prerequisites
The basic knowledge of cell and molecular biology (e.g. KBI / BIO01 or KBM / 250 course), biochemistry (e.g. UCH / 757) and basic methods of molecular biology is an advantage (e.g. KMB / 408). The course complements knowledge of parasitology acquired in the course of Biology of Parasitism (KPA / 170) and special parasitological courses - Biology of Parasitic Protozoa (KPA / 480), Biology of Parasitic Arthropods (KPA / 486) and Helminth Biology (KPA / 484). Special course of master's or doctoral study program Parasitology, suitable also for students of master's or doctoral study program Molecular Biology using protozoa as model organisms.

Assessment methods and criteria
Colloquium

To successfully complete the course students are required to: 1. Actively participate and present in the scope of the "Journal Club". 2. Prove the knowledge of the course subject during the oral examination.
Recommended literature
  • Alberts, Bruce. Molecular biology of the cell. New York : GS Garland Science, Taylor & AFrancis Group, 2015. ISBN 978-0-8153-4464-3.
  • Archibald, John M., Simpson, Alastair G.B., Slamovits, Claudio H. Handbook of the Protists. Springer, 2017. ISBN 978-3-319-28147-6.
  • C. Bryan, C. Behm. Biochemical Adaptation in Parasites. Chapman and Hall Ltd., 1990. ISBN 978-0412325304.
  • Ian Fairweather. Cell Signalling in Prokaryotes and Lower Metazoa. Springer, 2004. ISBN 978-90-481-6483-7.
  • J. J. Marr, M. Miller (Eds. ). Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Parasites. Academic Press Ltd, 1995. ISBN 9780124733459.
  • Kennedy M., Harnett W. (Eds.). Parasitic Nematodes: Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Immunology. CABI 2nd edition, 2013. ISBN 978-1845937591.
  • R. Lucius, B. Loos-Frank, R.P. Lane, R.Poulin, C.W. Roberts, R. K. Grencis. The Biology of Parasites. iley-Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey, 2017. ISBN 978-3-527-32848-2.
  • Walochnik, Julia, Duchene, Michael (Eds.). Molecular Parasitology: Protozoan Parasites and their Molecules. Springer, 2016. ISBN 978-3-7091-1416-2.
  • William Marquardt (Ed.). Biology of Disease Vectors - 2nd edition. Academic Press, 2004. ISBN 9780080494067.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Parasitology (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Parasitology (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer
Faculty: Faculty of Science Study plan (Version): Parasitology (1) Category: Biology courses - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: Summer