External research facility Valtice

Klášterní 2
691 42 Valtice

How to find us

Head

RNDr. Ivo Rudolf, Ph.D.  <rudolfbrno.cas.cz> - molecular diagnostics of pathogens

Full-time researchers

prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Hubálek, DrSc.  <zhubalekbrno.cas.cz> - ecology of pathogens
Mgr. Silvie Šikutová, Ph.D.  <sikutovabrno.cas.cz> - ecology of arthropod vectors

Research assistants

Ing. Lenka Betášová  <betasovaivb.cz> -
Mgr. Petra Jedličková  <jedlickovaivb.cz> -

PhD students

Mgr. Kristýna Venclíková  <venclikovaivb.cz>

Undergraduates

Bc. Petra Straková  
Bc. Veronika Vrbovská  

Technician

Juraj Peško  <juraj.peskoseznam.cz>
Ladislava Ševčíková  <sevcikovaivb.cz>

Research priorities

Research is focused on the ecology of zoonotic microbial pathogens, the causative agents of human and animal infections, including (re)emerging diseases. The role of wild endotherm vertebrates (hosts or reservoirs of the zoonotic agents) and haematophagous arthropods (vectors of some pathogens) is studied in natural foci of diseases under the effect of changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic influences.

Main research topics:

  • ecology of arboviruses, i.e. viruses transmitted by ixodid ticks, mosquitoes and other haematophagous arthropods (e.g., West Nile, Ťahyňa, and tick-borne encephalitis viruses),
  • ecology of spirochetes (Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent of Lyme borreliosis) and some other bacterial arthropod-borne agents,
  • circulation of these pathogens in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems under changing environmental conditions (including human activity impacts),
  • use and optimization of molecular-biological methods for detection and characterization of the zoonotic studied pathogens,
  • proposals for control of the zoonotic pathogens and for prevention of free-living vertebrates and human (as a contribution to preventive human and veterinary medicine, environmental protection and nature conservation).