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Effect of parasites on haematological traits in vertebrates
Vacková, Julie ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Svobodová, Jana (referee)
Deviation out of homeostasis is reflected by physiological stress and altered immunological activity leading to changes in blood composition. Haematological examination may reveal deflection from the long-term optimum-the state of health. Haematological changes associated with parasitism are in some cases so distinctive that they allow the estimation of the parasite type affecting the host health. I aim to summarise basic methods utilised in veterinary haematology and evaluate the influence of individual groups of parasites on haematological parameters related to red and white blood cells. In vertebrates the most significant haematological changes are caused by multicellular endoparasites. Typical is eosinophilia and increased total leucocyte count. Ectoparasites are usually responsible for decrease in erythrocytes and increase in leucocytes. Extracellular bacteria increase total neutrophil and lymphocyte counts while intracellular bacteria cause decrease in all blood cell types. Viruses often decrease number of erythrocytes and leucocytes and change neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Changes in the haematological parameters caused by protists are difficult to generalize and not much is presently known about the influence of fungi on the blood composition in vertebrates. Variation in the effect of...
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Porcelain disease in crayfish: biology, impacts and distribution
Jelínková, Tereza ; Balcarová, Eva (advisor) ; Vávra, Jiří (referee)
The porcelain disease is a disease affecting crayfish caused by the microsporidium Thelohania contejeani. This intracellular parasite attacks muscle cells of the host and fills them with spores. This leads to white or opaque colouration of the abdominal muscle of crayfish, which is characteristic for this disease. The parasite gradually attacks more muscle fibers which probably leads to decrease of locomotor activity of affected crayfish and finally may result in their death. T. contejeani at low prevalences does not represent a real danger to crayfish populations and thus it is not as serious threat as crayfish plague. However, it has been associated with several cases of mass mortalities too. This thesis summarizes essential findings about infection by this parasite, analyzes its impacts to the host and factors that can influence transmission and progress of this disease. It also describes a life cycle of T. contejeani, summarizes records of the occurrence of this parasite and evaluates risks which it poses to crayfish populations. Finally, methods used to detect infection are described. Keywords: Thelohania contejeani, porcelain disease, crayfish, microsporidia, parasite, muscle
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Parasite's life within the host cell.
Krupičková, Alžběta ; Doležal, Pavel (advisor) ; Štáfková, Jitka (referee)
Plasmodium falciparum is one of the most dangerous human intracellular single-celled pathogen. This thesis describes the invasion, the survival and the egress of the pathogen from the host cell (erythrocyte). The main topic of the thesis is the parasite's life within the host cell in a newly created compartment, parasitophorous vacuole. By exploding hundreds of proteins Plasmodium falciparum establishes number of unique modifications inside as well as on the surface of the host cell. The thesis finishes with the chapter on the therapy and possible development of new drugs and the chapter on the parasite evolution. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
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Cathepsin L by parasites - occurrence, features, functions
Perháčová, Terézia ; Mikeš, Libor (advisor) ; Kašný, Martin (referee)
Cathepsines L are lysosomal cysteine endopeptidases with an universal function in protein catabolism. This work discusses present knowledge about their characteristics in the context of their specific function in parasites. Features and function differences are described in detail on molecular level. The emphasis is on the biochemical properties with resultant use of these enzymes. Cathepsines L of kinetoplastida, aplikomplexa, entamoeba and helmints (focused on Fasciola spp and Schistosoma spp) are each discussed in appropriate chapters. Key words: hydrolase, protease, cysteine peptidase, cathepsin L, lysosome, parasite
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The metabolism of amino acids in parasitic and anaerobic protists
Jakubec, Dávid ; Šuťák, Róbert (advisor) ; Hrdý, Ivan (referee)
Parasitic protists are the cause of countless pathological conditions and economic issues in many parts of the world. While being phylogenetically unrelated, they share many similarities in their approach to satisfying the essential needs. Unlike the much studied energy metabolism, amino acids utilisation pathways are rather unexplored areas. This review shows that in many cases, the parasitic life style has not had the same impact on the amino acid metabolism as it did on the energy metabolism of the protists, which is often severely reduced. Novel pathways have been found in many of the organisms in question, for the biosynthesis of amino acids deemed both essential and non-essential in humans. The arginine dihydrolase pathway found in Trichomonas and Giardia represents a complely new way of utilising the said amino acid. The metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acid has been a matter of intensive research for their non-proteogenic roles. Polyamines are organic nitrogenous compounds involved in many vital processes in the cells, including DNA replication and protein translation. The synthesis of polyamines and their derivatives is elucidated, as it is directly connected to the amino acid metabolism. Finally, the exploitation of the unique pathways described integrates the previous research with the aim...
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Transfer of genetic information between parasite and its host
Soukal, Petr ; Hampl, Vladimír (advisor) ; Votýpka, Jan (referee)
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is considered a rare evolutionary event. It can take place between unrelated organisms that coexist in an intimate symbiotic relationship. Such relationship have some parasites with its host. HGT between eukaryotic parasite and its host was identified in some holoparazitic and hemiparazitic plants, the most important human protozoan parasites, microsporidias, human blood-flukes, parasitoids and fruit flies.
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Application of Haematological Methods in Zoological Studies
Poplová, Jitka ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Krulová, Magdaléna (referee)
Haematological methods are widely used in zoological researches. Unfortunately, especially in ecological studies there is often much imperfection in techniques adopted, and misinterpretation of results is also common. This is particularly the case of methods serving to assessment of the peripheral blood cellular composition. In this thesis I therefore decided to describe basic haematological methods, their mechanisms, advantages and disadvantages. I also highlighted possible application potential in several less widely utilised haematological techniques. In the practical part of this thesis I have shown that the examination of immature erythrocyte differential count may serve as a meaningful indicator of health state in birds.
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Methods for Leishmania parasite detection and quantificatio as a tool for study of the pathogen-vector-host interactions
Kobets, Tetyana ; Lipoldová, Marie (advisor) ; Kodym, Petr (referee) ; Kopecký, Jan (referee)
Methods for Leishmania parasite detection and quantification as a tool for study of the pathogen-vector-host interactions Leishmaniasis in human is caused by total 21 species of the intracellular protozoan parasite Leishmania, which are transmitted by about 30 species of phlebotomine sand flies. Besides human, Leishmania can infect a number of vertebrate hosts. The major host cell is the macrophage, in which parasites multiply, eventually rupturing the cell and spreading to uninfected cells. Infected monocytes and macrophages circulating in the peripheral blood are thought to be carriers of the parasite to distal sites. Depending on the infected sites of the body, there are three forms of leishmaniasis: cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral. Leishmaniasis is a disease for which we still lack effective, affordable and easy to use drugs. In addition, surveillance and control are also neglected. This thesis summarizes the results of several projects using different approaches for parasite load measurement in the mouse model of leishmaniasis, including two methods that were developed and optimized in our laboratory. Detection and quantification of pathogens belongs to the major topics of the research of various infectious diseases. This parameter is necessary for confirmation of the diagnosis, characterization...
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Evolution of molecular interaction between host and parasite
Bílková, Barbora ; Vinkler, Michal (advisor) ; Synek, Petr (referee)
Coevolution between host and parasite is a long-term object of scientific interest, mostly because of negative influence of parasites and human need to defend against it., The evidence concerning host-parasite coevolution mechanisms is, however, still incomplete and various models and theories are considered separately, out of the general concept. Beside generally well-known theories such as the "Red queen" theory or the coevolution "arms race" theory, several other models were proposed, e.g. the "gene for gene" model or the "matching allele" model, which describe detailed aspects of host-parasite coevolution and principles of genetic variability maintenance in their interaction. Although there are many studies mapping reciprocal evolution of hosts and parasites, the connection between empirical evidence and theoretical models is often missing. Therefore, this thesis covers theory on host-parasite evolutionary interactions and provides examples of host-parasite systems and molecules, which correspond to behavior of described models.
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Interactions of mouse pinworms and trichomonads
Choutková, Jana ; Horák, Petr (advisor) ; Langrová, Iva (referee)
Oxyurid nematodes Aspiculuris tetraptera and Syphacia obvelata are both common mouse intestinal parasites; in the same location several species of trichomonads occur. Tritrichomonas muris is the most often found, but there are also some others: Tritrichomonas minuta, Pentatrichomonas hominis or Hexamastix muris. It is known that, under some circumstances, trichomonads can be found in the intestine of mouse pinworms, as reported by Theiler and Farber (1936) for T. muris in A. tetraptera and S. obvelata. What is interesting, trichomonads were found also in pinworms from trichomonad-negative mice. In 1933, Becker observed motile trophozoites of T. muris in the egg of S. obvelata. These observations offer a chance that the protist may be transmitted to a new host in similar manner (via pinworm eggs) as it was described for Histomonas meleagridis. In our study we document trichomonads in pinworm bodies, determine species of trichomonads, search for their localization, morphology and, based on the data, assess possibility of trichomonad transmission to a new mammalian host via pinworm eggs. By use of classical histology, in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy, we observed trichomonads exclusively in the intestinal lumen of both pinworm species. They were found in the entire pinworm...
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