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Description

The fundamentally basic research activity of the ParaSalut group covers different aspects of the relationship between health and parasites, in both humans and animals carrying parasitic diseases or their models. The group presents lines of work on parasitic diseases caused by Protozoa, as well as Helminths and Arthropods. All the lines are already in progress and have numerous publications, as shown on the group members’ resumes.

Protozoa: One of the group’s research lines focuses on the influence of intestinal parasites (mainly protozoa) on human nutrition, given that said parasites interfere directly or indirectly with the nutrient absorption processes, maldigestion and / or malabsorption. Therefore, this line consists of two main objectives: 1) study on the relationship between intestinal parasites and food intolerances to carbohydrates, and 2) studies on the relationship between intestinal parasites and mother-child nutrition, as well as the analysis of the nutritional status of mothers and children and the effect of parasitosis on child development.

Helminths: Different aspects of helminthic diseases are addressed with a focus on epidemiology, ecology and parasite-host relationships.

Epidemiology / ecology: There are two lines addressing aspects on epidemiology and ecology of diseases caused by helminths. One of them analyses the study on biological cycles, transmission and population dynamic of helminths in murine models that have shown to be good bio-indicators of the parasite-host relationship. These studies are complemented by the line working on the creation of Geographical Information Systems with the use of satellite images and thematic maps for epidemiology modelling and the transmission of human and animal parasites, and the influence of climate change on them. Likewise, studies on food-transmitted parasitic diseases are addressed in another line in which the study of anisakiasis in fish for human consumption represents its basic pillar.

Parasite-host relationships: the establishment of a parasitic disease results from the parasite succeeding over the host. The analysis for the established relationships between both are fundamental to know the factors said establishment depends on, thus enabling the implementation of adequate preventive measures. Likewise, the specificity of this relationship is a tool for the improvement of current diagnostic methods.  In these parasite-host relationships, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have lately proved to be a valuable instrument for these purposes.

The ParaSalud group develops a line on the study of EVs in different helminths of human and veterinary interest. Said EVs are isolated and characterised by their composition (proteins, miRNAs) and their use as target molecules for diagnosis, treatment and / or vaccination is experimentally evaluated. This previously undertaken research line is reinforced by other lines from the group working on the study of parasite-host relationships by techniques generally referred to as “omics”, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics.

The line on human Taeniasis / Cisticerosis is part of both aspects: epidemiological studies of materials from different countries, and ultrastructural as well as secretomics studies of the infective form of human cisticerosis, the egg.

Arthropods: Equally important are ectoparasite arthropods, considering that in addition to being vectors of parasitic diseases, they have their own pathogenic potential. The Medical Entomology line carries out the diagnosis and epidemiologic analysis of mosquitos populations, lice, bedbugs and myisis cases.

Goals CT
  • Studying the relationship between the malabsorption of carbohydrates (lactose, fructose) and intestinal parasitosis, as well as the latter and their influence on child development.
  • Epidemiologic study of helminths and arthropods of sanitary interest with development of SIGs to analyse the effect of climate change.
  • Omic and exovesicles studies in human and animal helminths and their diagnostic, treatment and vaccine applicability.
  • Epidemiologic studies on food transmission parasites.
Research lines
  • Teniasis and Cisticercosis

    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.

  • Characterisation of extracellular vesicles and their components. Health applications.

    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).

  • Food parasitology

    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.

  • Parasites and Nutrition

    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.

  • Study on parasite-host relationships via omics techniques

    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.

  • Ecology and Epidemiology of human and animal parasites

    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.

  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS); human and animal parasites

    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.

  • Medical entomology

    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.

Management
  • GALAN PUCHADES, MARIA TERESA
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
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Members
  • BERNAL MEMBRILLA, MARIA DOLORES
  • PDI-Titular d'Universitat
  • Secretari/a de Departament
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  • CORTES CARBONELL, ALBA
  • Alumn.-Servei de Formacio Permanent
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  • FUENTES FERRER, MARIUS VICENT
  • PDI-Titular d'Universitat
  • Coordinador/a de Programa de Doctorat
  • Coordinador/a Curs
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  • MARCILLA DIAZ, ANTONIO
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
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  • TAPIA VELOZ, GABRIELA ELIZABETH
  • PI-Invest Formacio Vali
  • D
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  • TRELIS VILLANUEVA, MARIA
  • PDI-Titular d'Universitat
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Collaborators
  • CANTALAPIEDRA GARCIA, FERNANDO
  • Doctorand.
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  • GOZALBO MONFORT, MONICA
  • Alumn.-Servei de Formacio Permanent
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Non-UV research staff

Parnters

  • Julián Felipe Porras Villamil - UVEG-Valencia
  • Christian Miquel Sánchez López - UVEG-Valencia
  • Estephany Carolina Tapia Veloz - UVEG-Valencia
Scientific production by UV researcher
  • FUENTES FERRER, MARIUS VICENT
    PDI-Titular d'UniversitatCoordinador/a de Programa de DoctoratCoordinador/a Curs
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  • MARCILLA DIAZ, ANTONIO
    PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
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  • TRELIS VILLANUEVA, MARIA
    PDI-Titular d'Universitat
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  • GOZALBO MONFORT, MONICA
    Alumn.-Servei de Formacio Permanent
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Associated structure
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Parasitology
Contact group details
Parasites and Health (ParaSalut)

Burjassot/Paterna Campus

Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés, s/n

46100 Burjassot (Valencia)

+34 963 544 536

Geolocation

research.uv.es/parasalut

mteresa.galan@uv.es

Contact people
  • GALAN PUCHADES, MARIA TERESA
  • PDI-Catedratic/a d'Universitat
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