Research Topics
Our
main research topics are the molecular recognition mechanisms, which
are used by parasites to find, identify, and invade their hosts. Our
results with very different parasites (Trematodes, Nematodes: hookworm infective larvae, protozoans: Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, ticks)
show, that the infective stages of most species identify their hosts
with a surprisingly high specificity. They respond in different
host-finding phases to very different environmental and host cues, and
most stages are provided with extremely sensitive and specific
chemoreceptors. Our data also indicate an enormous diversity of
host-finding strategies. Each species studied so far finds and
identifies its host in response to different host signals and with
mechanisms which differ considerably from those of other species even
when these invade the same host genera. This diversity reflects
adaptations to maximum transmission success under different ecological
conditions. Our results show that host-finding is a key factor in the
transmission of many parasites, and we have investigated a possible
new approach to specific control methods employing our knowledge on
host-finding mechanisms.
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