Die Arbeitsgruppen der DGP-Mitglieder stellen sich vor
In our group, we study the cell biology of the most virulent human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum.
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that puts half of the world’s population at risk of infection. Owing to the rapid emergence and spread of drug resistance, innovative intervention strategies are urgently needed and strictly depend on our improved understanding of the complex biology underlying this devastating disease. Malaria is caused by unicellular Plasmodium parasites which repeatedly invade and lyse red blood cells in the human bloodstream. Throughout its development within the erythrocyte, the parasite endocytoses ~80% of the host cell cytoplasm which is then catabolized in an acidic digestive vacuole. Proteolytic cleavage of hemoglobin releases the co-factor heme which is highly toxic in its unbound form. To avoid cell damage, the parasite sequesters the host-derived heme into bioinert crystals known as hemozoin which accumulate in the digestive vacuole. The transition from hemoglobin to hemozoin is essential for parasite survival and is exploited in antimalarial chemotherapy. In our BMBF-funded research group, we study the physiology and molecular machinery of the parasite’s digestive vacuole as well as other parasite adaptations that are essential for blood stage survival. By combining Cas9-mediated genetic engineering with a variety of quantitative imaging approaches and chemical biology, we hope to gain a better understanding of the complex adaptations that ensure the survival of P. falciparum in the human bloodstream.
Contact:
Joachim Matz
Molecular Parasitology Group
Department of Cellular Parasitology
Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
Bernhard-Nocht-Straße 74
20359 Hamburg, Germany
joachim.matz(at)bnitm.de
Prof. Dr. Christina Strube, PhD
Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
We are veterinary parasitologists with a focus on veterinary public health, i.e. on maintaining the health of humans and animals. One focus of our research is on ticks and tick-borne diseases. This includes long-term studies to analyse the impact of climate change on tick and pathogen distribution and abundance, and the risk of infection and role of reservoir hosts in the urban-rural gradient.
Our second research focus is on zoonotic roundworms of dogs and cats. When infecting paratenic hosts such as humans, the roundworm larvae migrate through the body tissues and can invade the central nervous system, leading to neurodegenerative processes and/or cognitive dysfunction. We are investigating the risk of infection in urban areas accessible to the public, the parasite-host interactions and health impacts associated with neurotoxocarosis.
Contact details
Christina Strube, Institut für Parasitologie,
Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover,
Bünteweg 17,
30559 Hannover,
christina.strube(at)tiho-hannover.de
Prof. Dr. Markus Meissner
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine / LMU München / Experimentelle Parasitologie
Apicomplexan parasites invade the host cell actively in a process that requires the parasites ability to move by gliding motility and a complex regulation of unique secretory organelles. We developed powerful reverse genetic tools that, in combination with cutting edge imaging approaches allow the functional dissection of core components of this complex machinery, such as parasite actin.
Protozoan parasites represent fascinating organisms with their own evolutionary history, giving rise to unique adaptation and novel biological pathways that can be very distinct to other eukaryotes. Importantly, some cells have become ingenious but dangerous parasites and we hope to identify unique mechanisms for future intervention strategies.
Fakultät für Tiermedizin
Lena-Christ-Str. 48
82152 Planegg-Martinsried
+49 (0)89 2180-3622
www.para.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
We work on parasitic filarial nematodes, which can cause the debilitating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis). In our experimental studies we use the rodent filarial nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis to identify and test novel drug candidates to facilitate the elimination of human filarial diseases. Furthermore, we are interested in protective immune responses, especially by eosinophils, and the immunomodulation by filariae. The latter has an impact on bystander immune responses, altering the response to co-infections and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
Parasitic filarial nematodes are fascinating as they modulate the host immune system to enable their long-term survival. Successful immunomodulation prevents filarial pathology and can have a beneficial impact on autoimmune and metabolic diseases. In contrast, patients that develop strong immune responses against the filariae can develop severe pathologies (blindness and dermatitis for onchocerciasis, lymphedema for lymphatic filariasis). Thus, research on filariae allows the identification of novel treatment strategies and helminth-derived products that could be used for the treatment of metabolic or autoimmune diseases. Simultaneously, there is a lack of drugs that target adult filariae. Therefore, preclinical and clinical studies are required to identify macrofilaricidal drugs to eliminate human filarial infections and associated pathologies.
Our vision is to address both aspects of filarial research to implement novel therapeutic options for NTDs and exploit the immunomodulatory potential of filariae.
You have one wish: I would wish that there are fewer bureaucratic hurdles so that you can focus on science.
Marc Hübner, DZIF Professor für Translationale Mikrobiologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53172 Bonn, Huebner(at)uni-bonn.de
We work on African trypanosomes and Leishmania, parasites that cause neglected tropical diseases of poverty (NTDs). We investigate the motion and navigation of parasites in their natural environments inside the mammalian host and the disease transmitting tsetse fly. This swimming influences the mobility of proteins on membranes, the division of organelles and the developmental cycle of the parasites.
Parasites have evolved in the most intimate proximity with their hosts. This means they have developed strategies to continuously evade our highly advanced defense strategies. By learning from the tricks of parasite we might learn a lot about us
Being fascinated by parasites and their biological and biochemical peculiarities we have mostly done basic science. In the past years, however, we have been more and more engaged in the direct fight against NTDs. The recent foundation of the DZVT is one big step forward.
Honestly, I would wish that the German society would be more interested in science and research (and of course I would love never ending funding)
Contact details
Markus Engstler, Lehrstuhl für Zell- und Entwicklungsbiologie, Biozentrum der Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97974 Würzburg, markus.engstler(at)uni-wuerzburg.de
Foto: Jaime Lisack, Markus Engstler (Biozentrum Würzburg)
Konsortien
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Parasitologie
Zusammenschluss aller wissenschaftlich an der Parasitologie interessierten Personen.