The main research of our group is study of bioactive molecules, especially proteolytic enzymes and their inhibitors, crucial for the parasite survival in their mammalian hosts. However, the scope of bioactive molecules is recently expanded to several other proteins secreted by parasites. Their identification and characterization is necessary for understanding of their biological role in the parasite and elucidate their interactions with the host. We use a cross-disciplinary research approach including molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics immunopathology. Our laboratory study models are primarily two unrelated worm species: blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni causing diseases called schistosomiasis (https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/schistosomiasis/), and common nematode model Caenorhabditis elegans (http://www.wormbook.org). For all these approaches we collaborate with the research teams and partners from the EU and the USA.
