The list of national projects SAS
Institute of Parasitology
Biogeography and migratory routes of zoonotic tapeworms Dibothriocephalus latus and D. dendriticus (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)
Biogeografia a migračné trasy zoonóznych pásomníc Dibothriocephalus latus a D. dendriticus (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)
| Duration: |
1.1.2021 - 31.12.2024 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Hromadová Ivica DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Tapeworms of the order Diphyllobothriidea are causative agents of parasitic zoonosis, diphyllobothriosis. Out of
50 species of the order, six were confirmed as true parasites of humans. Human can acquire infection by
consumption of fish infected with larval stages called plerocercoids. The only autochthonous diphyllobothriid
species in Europe parasitizing human are Dibothriocephalus latus and Dibothriocephalus dendriticus. They were
selected as model parasites of the project due to their medical importance, zoonotic potential and broad
geographic distribution. The aim of the project is to provide the latest data on distribution of both tapeworms in
Europe using molecular markers and genotyping. Genetic interrelationships and migratory routes of world-wide
populations of D. latus and D. dendriticus will be determined by mitochondrial haplotypes and polymorphic
microsatellite loci. The project will reveal if diphyllobothriosis is native in Europe or is a result of trans-continental
introduction. |
Small mammals as reservoir for zoonotic pathogens in an urbanizing world – epidemiology and genetic diversity.
Drobné cicavce ako rezervoár zoonóznych patogénov v urbanizujúcom sa svete - epidemiológia a genetická diverzita
| Duration: |
1.7.2022 - 30.6.2026 |
| Program: |
SRDA |
| Project leader: |
MVDr. Miterpáková Martina DrSc. |
| Annotation: | The research project is focused on the transmission of zoonotic pathogens of parasitic Capillaria hepatica, Trichinella spp., Toxocara spp., Echinococcus multilocularis, Hymenolepis spp., Toxoplasma gondii) and bacterial (Bartonella spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia spp., etc.) origin through their reservoir hosts – rodents and insectivores. The topic is very closely related to the current intensive urbanization, which is significantly connected with natural habitats modification and changes in the wildlife species distribution. In addition, the common environment shared by urbanized animal species with humans and the zoonotic nature of many pathogens pose a serious risk to public health risks. The presented project aims to conduct complex zoological and epidemiological research providing antecedent information on species spectrum of the reservoir hosts and the pathogens transmitted by them in various habitats of the urban and suburban environment; the phylogenetic analyzes of the obtained isolates will be performed, and the degree of potential infection risk from the veterinary and public health point of view will be determined. The added value of the project consists in the high probability of acquiring rare and precious biological material which can be used also for other biological and medical researches. |
Epidemiology, genetic variability and health risk of zoonotic parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. in urban and rural ecosystems of Slovakia
Epidemiológia, genetická variabilita a zdravotné riziká zoonóznych parazitov Toxoplasma gondii a Toxocara spp. v urbánnych a rurálnych ekosystémoch Slovenska
| Duration: |
1.1.2024 - 31.12.2027 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
MVDr. Antolová Daniela DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis are parasitic zoonoses occurring also in climatic and geographic conditions of Slovakia and important in both, human and veterinary medicine. Toxoplasmosis in particular can cause serious or even fatal health problems in immunocompromised persons and pregnant women. Project will bring priority results about the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara spp. in patients with immunosuppression, persons in different risk of infection and in children from different socioeconomic conditions. The occurrence of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in domestic and wild animals used for food production and in sentinel species will be monitored aiming to identify human infection risk. Valuable information about the role of different animal species in the spread of pathogens in urban and rural habitats will be obtained and the level of infection risk from the point of view of public health and veterinary medicine will be determined. Phylogenetic analyses of isolates will be also performed. |
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Faktory ovplyvňujúce obmenu sietí parazit-hostiteľ - od lokálnych ku kontinentálnym metaspoločenstvám
Ivermectin - antiparasitic therapy in small ruminants, resistance and residues in food
Ivermektín - antiparazitárna terapia u malých prežúvavcov, rezistencia a reziduá v potravinách.
Modulation of imunity by albendazole and the role of selected miRNAs in experimental alveolar echinococcosis.
Modulácia imunity albendazolom a úloha vybraných miRNAs pri experimentálnej alveolárnej echinokokóze
Molecular and phylogeographical studies of causative agents of emerging zoonoses - alveolar and cystic echinococcosis.
Molekulárne a fylogeografické štúdie pôvodcov vynárajúcich sa zoonóz - alveolárnej a cystickej echinokokózy
| Duration: |
1.1.2022 - 31.12.2025 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Šnábel Viliam CSc. |
| Annotation: | Alveolar and cystic echinococcoses, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato cestodes, are of increasing public health concern in Europe. The project is designed to better recognize
patterns of dissemination of E. multilocularis in the Eurasian continent, and the current distribution of species
lines, which often differ in infectivity. In E. granulosus s.l., attention will be paid to track the occurrence of the
virulent E. granulosus sensu stricto in central-eastern Europe that has recently spread northward from the
endemic Mediterranean region. Phylogeographical relationship in Echinococcus canadensis and E. granulosus
s.s. will be evaluated to indicate historical movements and the current dispersion of their variants in the eastern
Europe and Russia. In G1 and G3 genotypes of E. granulosus s.s., biological characteristics will be evaluated to delineate until which extent they correlate with genetic differences and whether they pose a comparable threat to human infection. |
Soil microbiota in natural forest ecosystems: its response to changing biotic and abiotic factors of habitat
Pôdna mikrobiota v prírodných lesných ekosystémoch, jej odozva na meniace sa biotické a abiotické faktory habitátu
| Duration: |
1.7.2020 - 30.6.2024 |
| Program: |
SRDA |
| Project leader: |
Ing. Renčo Marek PhD. |
| Annotation: | Soil microbiota (including microfauna) plays a key role in nutrient cycles and energy flows, regulating the supply of plant-available nutrients from the soil and hence providing essential services to the forest ecosystem. Therefore, the knowledge about the state of soil microbial and nematode community, factors influencing it and consequently ways of its management is a fundamental need not only in plant productivity, soil ecology but in ecology in general. The aim of the proposed project is to analyse and clarify the responses of soil microbiota including nematodes to variation in abiotic and biotic factors of their habitat in natural forest ecosystems at a local scale and to find out whether the responses differ at a regional and global scale. The study will be conducted at localities with different trees species (European beech and Norway spruce) in natural forest ecosystems. The following issues can be considered innovative: (i) a complex evaluation of relationships in the system plant-soil-soil microbiota, (ii) study of relationships between two groups of soil biota (soil microorganisms and nematodes), (iii) synthesis of results and data on soil microorganisms from different sites in Slovakia and abroad, which allows a certain degree of generalisation. Understanding the responses of soil microbiota to variability in vegetation and abiotic factors is vitally important for the suggestions and recommendations regarding soil protection and biodiversity conservation in relation to climate change
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Pet animals as effective sentinels of pathogens´ circulation with specific emphasis on vector-borne and zoonotic species
Spoločenské zvieratá ako účinný indikátor cirkulácie patogénov so špecifickým dôrazom na vektormi prenášané a zoonózne druhy
| Duration: |
1.1.2021 - 31.12.2024 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
MVDr. Miterpáková Martina DrSc. |
| Annotation: | Epidemiology of infectious diseases of dogs and cats is currently undergoing a phase of rapid changes. The increase in pet travel and trade, urbanisation, plus changes in climate and natural environment can alter the range and abundance of vectors and reservoirs of several serious pathogens and will probably influence the present epidemiological situation. Given that 60-80% of infections are zoonotic in nature, dogs and cats may be effective sentinel animals when assessing the infection exposure for the human population. The project primarily focuses on arthropod-borne pathogens (Anaplasma, Borrelia, Babesia,, Hepatozoon, Dirofilaria, Thelazia a.o.) circulating in different types of urban/suburban environments differing in climate, landscape and biodiversity. The outcome of the project will be a comprehensive knowledge of species composition and abundance of ticks, and epidemiologically important arthropod-borne pathogens threatening both pets and human health in highly populated urban environments. |
Microbial and parasitic organisms spread under the influence of global climate, environmental and social changes
Šírenie mikrobiálnych a parazitických organizmov pod vplyvom globálnych klimatických, environmentálnych a spoločenských zmien
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the war conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the war conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the war conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine
Scholarships for excellent researchers threatened by the war conflict in Ukraine
Štipendiá pre excelentných výskumníkov ohrozených vojnovým konfliktom na Ukrajine
Therapeutic potential of bacteriocins in intestinal and extraintestinal parasitozoonoses and mechanisms of their beneficial effects
Terapeutický potenciál bakteriocínov pri črevných a mimočrevných parazitozoonózach a mechanizmy ich prospešných účinkov.
| Duration: |
1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
MVDr. Dvorožňáková Emília PhD. |
| Annotation: | As an alternative biological therapy for severe parasitic zoonoses (alveolar echinococcosis, trichinellosis), the protective effect of bacteriocins (Enterocin M, Durancin-like, Enterocin EMML2 /2, Enterocin 412) produced by Enterococcus strains will be examined. Bacteriocinogenic activity will be evaluated in the interactions between bacteriocin application, induction of immune effectors and elimination of the parasite. The immunomodulatory (activation, regulation/suppression) effects of bacteriocins will be monitored on critical immune cells (macrophages, lymphocytes). Detection of host immune responses (locally and overall) to a specific bacteriocin can identify relevant effector molecules in cellular signaling pathways useful in antiparasitic defense. The obtained results reveal bacteriocin-specific mechanisms of immunological control of parasites (Trichinella spiralis and Echinococcus multilocularis) and help select suitable candidates for prophylaxy or therapy of parasitic infections. |
Effect of environmental pollution on the functional morphology and chromosome of fish parasites
Vplyv environmentálnej záťaže na funkčnú morfológiu a chromozómy rybích parazitov
| Duration: |
1.1.2023 - 31.12.2026 |
| Program: |
VEGA |
| Project leader: |
RNDr. Orosová Martina PhD. |
| Annotation: | The rapid development of chemical technologies is accompanied by the release of large amounts of chemicals
into all parts of the environment, where they threaten health of organisms on Earth. Zemplínska Šírava reservoir
is an ecologically disturbed ecosystem, heavily contaminated with PCB compounds. The aim of the project is to
study the impact of the polluted environment on the development of morphological anomalies and on the
structure of chromosomes of intestinal parasites of fish. For the first time, in addition to classical and molecular
karyological techniques, a new approach to identify DNA repeats in the genome of parasites (RepeatExplorer) will
be used to obtain suitable chromosomal markers. We expect that the FISH mapping of these markers in
ecologically diverse populations will provide original information that can answer questions about the likely impact
of high anthropogenic pollution on the chromosomes of the parasitic organisms studied, with potential use as
sensitive bioindicators. |
The total number of projects: 16
