Geldhof & Claerebout lab

Prof. dr. Peter Geldhof

Prof. dr. Edwin Claerebout

VPI, UGent

Research topic

The research performed at the Laboratory of Parasitology is situated at the crossroads of immunology and parasitology. The ultimate goal is to unravel the host-parasite interplay during parasitic infections of the gastrointestinal tract and provide the essential information needed for the development of immunological control strategies to combat these infections. The research includes the analysis of the host immune responses combined with detailed research into parasite biology. The parasite species that are currently the focus of our research include worms such as Ostertagia ostertagi and Cooperia oncophora infecting cattle and Ascaris suum in pigs as well as the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis.

Selected publications

  1. González-Hernández et al. Host protective ASP-based vaccine against the parasitic nematode Ostertagia ostertagi triggers NK cell activation and mixed IgG1-IgG2 response. Sci Rep. 2016 Jul 11;6:29496.
  2. Zaiss et al. The Intestinal Microbiota Contributes to the Ability of Helminths to Modulate Allergic Inflammation. Immunity. 2015 Nov 17;43(5):998-1010.
  3. Van Meulder et al. Analysis of the protective immune response following intramuscular vaccination of calves against the intestinal parasite Cooperia oncophora. Int J Parasitol. 2015 Aug;45(9-10):637-46.
  4. Dreesen et al. Giardia muris infection in mice is associated with a protective interleukin 17A response and induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha. Infect Immun. 2014 Aug;82(8):3333-40.
  5. Masure et al. The intestinal expulsion of the roundworm Ascaris suum is associated with eosinophils, intra-epithelial T cells and decreased intestinal transit time. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013 Dec 5;7(12):e2588.

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