Protozoology Research Group

The Protozoology Research Group is comprised of three research units (Molecular Parasitology, Trypanosoma, and Malariology) performing basic and translational research on three major vector-borne protozoan parasites responsible for devastating diseases in humans and animals across the developing world: Leishmania (human leishmaniasis), Plasmodium (human malaria), Trypanosoma (human and animal African trypanosomiasis). Intensive control and elimination efforts are currently ongoing to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis in the Indian subcontinent, malaria in the three continents and HAT in Africa. Our research is closely connected to this as the acquired new knowledge and its translation into innovative tools for diagnosis and surveillance will enhance the ongoing disease-control/elimination programmes and their follow-up. 

The main common goal that drives the basic research within the group is, by using state-of-the-art molecular, cell biology, and computational technologies, to improve our understanding of the parasite biology and adaptation mechanisms to different micro-environments in its hosts (including anti-parasite drug pressure) and the parasite-host molecular interplay that drives these mechanisms. Moreover, we study the impact of the adaptation on the parasite genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity within the host, both at individual and population level and on the parasite transmission.