The research group was created with the aim of conducting research work targeted at: (I) improving the diagnosis and referencing of relevant parasitoses; and (II) designing possible vaccines, using molecular and/or genomic and proteomic approaches, as well as immunological analysis of patients suffering from the diseases under study. More specifically, using protozoa (such as Toxoplasma and emerging intestinal species) and helminths (such as Taenia, Trichinella, Anisakis and filarias) as models, attempts have been made to clone, sequence and express key molecules in the biology of the above parasites, and use the cloned genes to ascertain their function, employing them as recombinant proteins and/or peptides in diagnostic/prognostic trials and, in some cases, as candidate vaccines in immunisation and vaccination trials.
Carlos III Institute of Health. National Microbiology Centre