Immunoparasitology

biology
biotechnology
chemistry

elective courses
elective monographs
obligatory courses

Immunoparasitolgy will provide student with a basic knowledge about host-parasite interactions at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population level. Student will learn how parasite gain access to and survive within their host. Parasite presented will include protozoa, helminths and ectoparasites. Specific immune response directed to each developmental stages of the parasites in invertebrates and vertebrates will be presented. The main topics are: the importance of immunogenicity for the parasite adaptation in the host, regulation of parasite development by the host immune response; molecular and immunological escape of parasites; modulation of the host's immune system response by the parasite; immune response in subsequent stages of infection (antiparasite innate immunity, acquired immunity and inhibition of immune response in chronic phase of infection, mechanisms of removing parasites from the gastrointestinal tract, allergies of parasite origin autoaggression; immunobiology of infections caused by arthropod-transmitted pathogens

During practical course students learn the morphology and life cycles of Protista Babesia microti, Neospora caninum and parasitic nematodes: Heligmosmoides polygyrus bakeri and Trichinella spiralis. For this, they cultured the parasites, they recognize various stage of parasite especially the invasive stage; learn the steps of immuneresponses; they mean level of innate and acquired response: ratio of lymphatic organs stimulation, leukocytosis and eosinophilia, the activity of eosinophil peroxidase measured by the EPO concentration. They conduct mesenteric lymph nodes cell proliferation test; they detect level of nitric oxide in macrophage cultures, the level of mast cell degranulation. They learn about immunoenzymatic tests and they measure IgG concentration in serum; They obtain and analyze somatic and excretory-secretory antigen of nematodes. They use bioinformatics tools to analyze the nematode DNA sequence variation.

Classroom

The lecture: genetic background of susceptibility to parasite infections. Immune reaction during infection with Protista and Metazoan. The ways of infections and types of immune response. Immunological indicators for the phase of infecton. Acute vs chronic infection. Virulence. Immune evading. Parasitic antigens. Vaccines

The classes practice: the life cycles of parasites; biology of developmental stages, methods of parasite culture in vitro and parasite passage in mice (B. microti, H.polygyrus bakeri, Trichinella spiralis). The degree of antiparasitic response; immune activation in the lymphoid tissue, leukocytosis and eosinophilia, eosinophil peroxidase activity, immune cells proliferation; nitric oxide production in macrophages, peritoneal mast cell degranulation, the immunoassays, ELISA, specific IgG antibodies; preparation and molecular analysis of parasite antigens; bioinformatics tools for the analysis of DNA sequence variation nematodes.

1. Parasitic Protista and Animals - immune response induced during infection.

2. Host-parasite interactions at the molecular, cellular, organismal and population level.

3. Category of the host and immune reaction to different stages of the parasite.

4. Biology and immunology of infection with Babesia, Trypanosoma, Leishmania and Plasmodium.

5 Epidemiology and immunobiology of infections transmited by arthropodes .

6. Parasitic Amoeba: mechanism of infection and pathogenesis.

7. Infection with Schistosoma, experimental and clinical observations, epidemiology.

8. Trichinella spiralis: hypersensitivity reaction in defense against the parasite.

9. Evasion mechanism of parasites: molecular and immunological and biological outcome.

10. Immunoregulation during infection with filariae.

11. Immune response during infection with geohelminths zarażeniu geohelmintami: defece, aquired immunity, pathogenesis, inhibition of allergic reactions.

12. Vaccination against the parasites.

13. The outcome of immune response in host population for parasite life cycle.

Morphology and life cycle of the parasite Babesia microti. Hematological parameters in acute and chronic phase of infection.

Acanthamoeba sp. - methods of diagnosis and in vitro culture.

Morphology and life cycle of the nematode; Trichinella spiralis and Heligmosomoides polygyrus; preparation of somatic and excretory- secretory antigens for the in vitro tests.

The ratio of lymphatic organ stimulation in mice infected with T. spiralis.

Blood leukocytosis and eosinophilia in mice infected with T. spiralis.

Indication of eosinophilic peroxidase (EPO) level in mice infected with T. spiralis.

Hypersensitivity during T. spiralis infection: mast cell degranulation test.

Evaluation of nitric oxide production by macrophage of mice infected with T. spiralis.

Induction of immune response in mice infected with H. p. bakeri; mesenteric lymph node lymphocyte proliferation assay

Genetic resistance of BALB /c and C57Bl6 mice strains to H. p. bakeri infection.

The level of antibodies in the serum of mice infected with T. spiralis and H. p. bakeri: ELISA test.

Molecular analysis of T. spiralis and H. p.bakeri antigens: SDS - PAGE.

Smyth J.D. Introduction to animal parasitology ,Cambridge University Press

Wakelin D. Immunity to parasites, Cambridge University Press

Cox F.E.G. Cox Modern Parasitology, Blackwell Scientific Publications

Kenedy D. Wakelin. Immunoparasitology. In Introduction to Animal Parasitology. Ed J.D. Smyth. Cambridge University Press, 1994

D. Wakelin .Immunity to parasites. Cambridge University Press, 1994

Advances in Parasitology. Academic Press, London and New York

Trends in Immunology, Elsevier

Trends in Parasitology, Elsevier

Fascynujący świat pasożytów. Kosmos, Tom54, 2005, No. 1

Wiadomości Parazytologiczne, Polskie Towarzystwo Parazytologiczne

Acta Parasitologica, Polish Parasitological Society

Student will know about the host response to parasites via the immune system and the ways parasites have evolved to avoid or use the immune response to enhance their survival and close the life cycle.

After practical course the student is able to perform immunological and parasitological diagnosis; is able to point acute or of chronic infection and defense reaction. He knows how to plan parasitological experiments and can indicate test confirms the significance of differences of results. He knows the methods for the parasitic antigens preparation and is able to perform the molecular analysis and identification of the proteins. He can analyze the parameters of immune response in the context of the defense reaction and immunosuppression.

KNOWLEDGE

1. Understand phenomenon and mechanisms in the host-parasite interaction in population and ecosystem K-W05BI1, K_W06BI1, K_W07BI1, K_W09BI1, K_W01BI2, K_W02BI2

2. Student recognizes biodiversity of parasites and understand how specificity of the interaction develope. K_W10BI1, K_W03BI2, K_W04BI2

3. Student understand basic terms of parasitology, patogenecity of parasites and epidemiology of parasitic diseases. K_W05BI1, K_W09BI1, K_W06BI2, K_W10BI2, K_W13BI2

5. Student knows and understand enviromental contribution of the host-parasite interaction and recognizes risk factors for human and animal health. Also understands principles for parasitic control programme. K_W10BI1, K_W10BI2, K_W13BI2, K_W14BI2, K_W19BI1, K_W19BI2

SKILLS

1. Student can intrepretate the phenomenon of parasitism at molecular and individual interactions in population and ecosystem; analyses data of parasite biology in realation to epidemiology of parasitic diseases. K_U01BI1,K_U01BI2, K_U04BI1,

2 Student use and understand scientific language and parasitological terminology, gets data from electronical sources and scienific publications K_U03BI1, K_U03BI2,

3. Student can critically evaluate the public information concerning the risk of infection with parasites.K_U04BI1, K_U04BI2, , K_U09BI2)

4. Is prepared to plan his own professional career using parasitological knowledge. K_U10BI1, (K_U13BI2)

5. He knows how to deal with risk factor of parasitic infections. (K_U12BT2)

SOCIO-COMPETENCE

1. Student expends owns knowledge of parasitology interests in medicine and veterinary (K_K01BI1, K_K01BI2 K-K03BI1)

2. Student understands and can clearly explain new information in parasitology and feel to be responsible for his informative activities in society.(K_K03BI1, K_K03BI1, K_K04BI1, K_K02BI2, K_K03BI2, K_K11BI2)

3. Student is cautious and critical in evaluation of public information concerning the risk factors of infection with parasites. Students understands the need to improve and develop his professional career and skills; (K_K06BI1, K_K08BI1, K_K10BI2, K_K07BI2)

4. Student is responsible for evaluation of risk factors of parasitological research

Examination. Full exam has 30 questions and 60% positive answers pass mark.

Practical course: protocols from experimental data, research paper presentation, test.

Not applicable.