Research Topics

Schistosoma mansoni adult 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 are currently investigating a possible new approach to specific control methods employing our knowledge on host-finding mechanisms.

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