Isolation and characterisation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in different helminth parasites. Identification of molecules present in EVs. Analysis for the usefulness of EVs in helminthiasis control and other diseases (diagnosis, vaccination and treatment).
Epidemiological (life cycle, transmission, population dynamic) and ecological (influence of biotic and abiotic factors) analysis of human and animal parasites (especially rodents). Analysis of behaviour and response of parasites after natural disasters.
Molecular haplotyping of Triatominae insects transmitting Chagas disease for the differentiation of species, subspecies and populations for phylogenetic and taxonomic reconstruction and study of gene flow between wild, peridomiciliary and intradomiciliary populations.
Epidemiological study of food-transmitted human parasites (protozoa and helminths). Study of the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factor on parasitism. Morphological and molecular diagnosis and identification of parasite species. Anisakiasis study.
Creation of Geographic Information Systems with the use of satellite images and thematic maps (climate, surface, parasitological parameters, etc.) for the modelling of epidemiology and the transmission of human / animal parasites, as well as the influence of climate change on them.
Molecular characterisation of Trematode Fasciolidae parasites of humans and animals from human endemic areas in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia and of Lymnaeidae molluscs transmitting Fascioliasis.
Host- and parasite-dependent factors that determine resistance to intestinal helminths or the development of chronic infections are discussed.
Epidemiological studies of intestinal parasitosis in populations living in poverty and/or exclusion or similar situations.
Parasitological studies focus on marine vertebrates (mammals, turtles and fish) and include taxonomic, ecological, evolutionary, biomarker, toxicological and pathological aspects, particularly in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
Diagnosis and epidemiological study of human ectoparasite arthropods (mosquitoes, myiasis, lice, bedbugs, etc.). Pest control and vectors on an individual level. Analysis of vector-transmitted parasitic diseases and influence of climate change on them.
There's an analysis for the parasites-food intolerance relationship and the prevalence, transmission routes and risk factors of suffering from intestinal parasitosis, the correlation between parasitosis and the reception of breastfeeding, as well as the parasites-child development relationship.
Molecular characterisation of vectors: sequence analysis, phylogenies, population genetics and haplotyping using ribosomal and mitochondrial markers; influence of human migrations; analysis of potential risk of transmission.
Study of molecular interactions between helminth parasites and their hosts. Tools destined to the control of said parasitosis (proteins and recombinant peptides along with polyclonal antibodies) stem from identified molecules.
Epidemiological study of teniasis / cisticercosis, with special reference to the third new parasitic tapeworm: Taenia asiatica. Ultrastructural studies of infective forms. Secretomics analysis of cisticercosis' infective forms (eggs) of the three human Taenia species.
