Giardia intestinalis is a major contributor to the enormous burden of diarrheal diseases with 250 million symptomatic human infections per year. The focus of our research group is to understand the biology and pathogenesis of Giardia but also other diarrhea-inducing protozoa.
We do this by using several different approaches that are complementary. Genome sequencing of different isolates is one approach. We have participated in the sequencing and annotation of Giardia genomes from parasites in three of the major genetic groups of Giardia (www.giardiadb.org). By using comparative genomics we have identified several putative virulence factors and genotype-specific genes that can be used in diagnosis. Genome sequencing is complemented by gene expression analyses using proteomics, and RNA sequencing. Gene expression in Giardia is studied during different conditions like host cell interactions, differentiation and stress-conditions. This has also identified several new potential virulence genes but also taught us much about the biology of the parasite. Potential virulence factors are studied further in our in vitro system with cell lines and enteroids that mimics host cell interaction in the human small intestine. These in vitro studies are complemented by studies using giardiasis patient material collected in Sweden, Bolivia and Mocambique. We try to study differences and similarities in the genomes of the parasites and we also study differences in the immune responses to the parasite. We also study the biology of other Diplomonads like Giardia muris, Spironucleus and Hexamita.
The main focus has been the cytoskeleton, differentiation and the hydrogenosome. Other research areas in the group are drug resistance in protozoan parasites and worms, microbiomes in malaria mosquitos, diagnostics of tape worm infections.
Telephone: +46 18 471 4558
fax: +46 18 530396
e-mail: staffan.svard@icm.uu.se