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Calcium and calcium-dependent proteins in the biology of schistosomes
Bartoníček, Zikmund ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Horn, Martin (referee)
Blood flukes of genus the Schistosoma are blood dwelling parasites that affect over 200 million people causing seriously debilitating disease, schistosomiasis. Like in other life forms, calcium represents one of the key elements in schistosomes. Calcium affects egg hatching, penetration into the host, evasion of hosts immune system and other crucial aspects of Schistosoma life. It can regulate those processes in two ways; either directly, or through interaction with calcium-binding proteins. Those proteins are either expressed in every life stage of schistosomes or they can be stage-specific. It is those properties of calcium and calcium-dependent proteins, that make them a potent vaccine targets. The first pioneer in the calcium dependent protein based vaccines is soon to come to human trials. Until the efficient vaccine is developed, we are dependent purely on chemotherapy against schistosomiasis. At the moment the drug of first choice, praziquantel is used to treat those who suffer from schistosomiasis. Its mode of action is not entirely known, but is evidently directly linked to calcium homoeostasis of schistosomes. This thesis focuses on calcium and calcium-dependent proteins because of their role - either direct or indirect - in the stated processes. Also, increased understanding of calcium...
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