This research project concerns the study of the pathogenesis of Giardia duodenalis, an intestinal parasite of which the importance in animal, as well as in public health, becomes more and more recognized. Both parasite (virulencefactors, pathogenicity) and host (immune response, intestinal flora and mucosal reactions) properties determine how the infection will progress. Many questions about the pathogenesis remain unanswered. The importance of locally generated radicals (e.g. NO•), for instance is something that still has to be cleared out...
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The goal of this project is to gain some fundamental insight in: 1/ mucosal interactions between parasite and host, by means of in vitro and in vivo models and 2/ intestinal pathogenetic factors which determine clinical course. Both human and cattle field isolates with different genotypes will be compared and evaluated for oxidative stress sensitivity, infectivity, pathophysiological changes in the intestine and clinical syndrome.
Contact: ely.benere@ua.ac.be
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