Institute of Parasitology

· 1994 - 2003: Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice
· 2000: Course to achieve the qualification for supervision and carrying out experiments on animals
· 2002: RNDr. in parasitology
· 2003: Ph.D. in parasitology, title of Ph.D. thesis: "Immune response against microsporidians of the genus Encephalitozoon"

· 1999-now: Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
· 2005: Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of South Bohemia České Budějovice

The role of IFN-gamma in immune response against microsporidial infection:
Microsporidia have been recently recognised as opportunistic pathogens in immunodeficient hosts, particularly patients with AIDS. The main objective of the project is to analyse the role of interferon gamma in peroral or intraperitoneal infection with Encephalitozoon cuniculi and E. intestinalis. The role of CD4+ T lymphocytes and NK cells in the protection against microsporidial infection is elucidated using an adoptive transfer of lymphocyte subpopulations to severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, specific depletion of lymphocyte subsets, or interferon gamma application. Solving of the project will provide the basis for potential cytokine therapy of these diseases.

Immunomodulatory effects of tick saliva, their impact on tick-borne pathogen transmission:
The aim of this research is to characterise the mechanism(s) by which tick saliva (SGE) facilitates pathogen transmission. Most of the experimental work is performed on the transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and TBE virus. The accelerating effect of Ixodes ricinus SGE on replication of both pathogens is studied in vivo and in vitro. Suppressive effect of SGE on various mechanisms of anti-pathogen immunity will be correlated with its promotion effect on pathogen transmission. Special attention will be paid to the analysis of SGE effect on pathogen-induced inflammation.
An attempt to develop pathogen transmission-blocking vaccine based on the use of modified immunomodulatory molecules from tick saliva as immunogens will be undertaken.