Molecular Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases

Parasites and their life cycles: an introduction. Basic principles and terms in evolutionary biology and ecology. Parasite biology and molecular biology: model protozoa and helminths. Basic principles and terms in parasitology. The animal phyla: their evolution and body plan. Parasite biology: Cestoda, with emphasis on Taenia spp. and Echinococcus spp. Pathogenesis, virulence and the evolution of host-symbiont interactions. Parasite biology: Nematoda, with emphasis on Trichinella spp, Ascaris spp, trichostrongylidae in ruminants, Strongyloides spp. Parasite biology: ticks and a general introduction to arthropods and arthropod vectors. The immunobiology of parasitic diseases. The global impact and importance of parasitic diseases. Diseases caused by protozoans, with emphasis on neosporosis, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniosis, trypanosomosis, malaria. Diseases caused by Trematoda, with emphasis on schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. Diseases caused by nematodes, with emphasis on toxocariasis, ancylostomiasis, filariasis, anisakidiasis. Tick-borne diseases: Lyme disease; basic information on rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis.

Integrative work. Ticks and other arthropods. Diagnosis of intestinal parasites. Diagnosis in parasitic diseases: an introduction. Problems in diagnosis: filariasis and leishmaniosis. Evolution in action: positive selection and the evolution of drug resistance. Evolution in action: host-symbiont interactions and phylogenetics.