Research interests
Field of research: molecular parasitology, environmental microbiology, research of the viability and resistance of unicellular protozoa (Sarcocystis spp.) in natural environments, influence of physical and chemical environmental factors on the survival of parasite sporocysts.
Identification and detection of Sarcocystis spp. in water, soil and feed samples, and assessment of their environmental risk to livestock and humans.
Methods used: sample concentration and filtration, DNA/RNA extraction and optimization, conventional and nested PCR, real-time PCR (qPCR) including viability PCR with propidium monoazide, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis.
Annotation of the doctoral dissertation
Title: Molecular studies on the viability and resistance of sporocysts of unicellular protozoa (Sarcocystis spp.)
Purpose: To evaluate the resistance of Sarcocystis spp. sporocysts to environmental factors and to optimize molecular methods for determining their viability and gene expression changes.
The main tasks:
- isolate and concentrate sporocysts from various natural samples;
- optimize molecular methods for assessing the viability of Sarcocystis spp. parasites;
- evaluate the effect of physical and chemical factors on the resistance of Sarcocystis spp. sporocysts;
- investigate gene expression changes of Sarcocystis spp. under environmental stress conditions, including possible stress-response genes (e.g. LEA and heat shock proteins).
Research objects: Sarcocystis spp. sporocysts; water samples.