Molecular Parasitology (eBook)

In the past years, genome projects for numerous human parasites have been completed and now allow first in depth comparisons and evolutionary conclusions. The genomes of parasites reflect the coevolution with their host, metabolic capacities depending on their respective habitat in the host. Gut parasites usually have an anaerobic metabolism, while blood parasites have an aerobic metabolism, intracellular parasites escape the immune system, while extracellular parasites evade the immune system, usually by antigenic variation. Comprehensive genome data now being available allow us to address profound scientific questions, such as which traits enable the parasite to survive in the human host, which to cause disease and which can be used as drug targets. This book intends to give an overview of the state of knowledge on 'the molecules' of protozoan parasites - on their genomes, proteomes, glycomes and lipidomes.

Julia Walochnik and Michael Duchêne are associate professors at the Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine in the Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology of the Medical University of Vienna. Julia Walochnik´s work is focused on the molecular biology of Acanthamoeba spp. and other protozoan parasites. Together with her group she has published more than 130 scientific publications, including book chapters and reviews. Michael Duchêne studies the biochemistry and molecular biology of Entamoeba histolytica. Further interests are allergens and antigenic structures of bacteria. Together with his students and collaborators, he has published more than 90 scientific publications plus several book chapters.