Coexistence of parasites -

The program "Coexistence of parasites" is composed of seven subgroups dealing with: 1. Development and introduction of contemporary and quick diagnostic methods for discrimination of bacterial and fungal infections. At the same time the group is investigating principles of surveillance of bacterial and fungal resistance to antibiotics. They are also testing new antibacterial substances which are still in the phase of a preclinical trial. 2. Study of emerging microogranisms in the area of Slovenia, their prevalence in the population, establishment of the best possible methodology for their discovery. Study of relationship between microorganism and disease. 3. Study of immunopathologic changes in inflammatory tissue and testing of mechanisms of invasion and defence. Establishment of well defined and adequate animal models in vitro and in vivo for studying interactions between a host and a parasite. 4. Study of natural resistance and immune response of effective host defence against microorganisms. Examination of apoptosis, clonal selection, cytokine dependent poliferation and differentiation of cells of the immune system. Importance of cytokines in regulation of immune system. 5. Study of ecology and epidemiology of some microorganisms important for Slovenian territory, such as hantaviruses, virus of tick borne meningoencephalitis, boreliosis, ricketsiosis and erlichiosis. The main point of this investigation is to find genetic markers significant to host-carrier-parasite relationship. Discovery of specific endemic regions important for habitation of distinct microorganisms in Slovenia. 6. Important task of our investigation is also a study of improvements in diagnostic procedures, genetic variability and spread of Hepatitis C in Slovenia. 7. Study of viral and chlamydial agents important for infections of the respiratory tract. Importance of this research program for the international community 1. Participation in international programs for microbial infection surveillance. 2. Searching for emerging microorganisms in the territory of Slovenia. 3. Participation in studies of the host parasite relationship in diseases and designing new therapeutic approaches. 4. Epizootic studies of new vectors important for transmission of infections in animals and men in Slovenia. 5. Study of genetic variability of several microorganisms depending on parasitism in different hosts and transmitters in Europe. Importance of this research program for Slovenia 1. Surveillance of infections and epidemics in Slovenian hospitals employing contemporary molecular and epidemiological techniques. Control of development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. 2. Introduction of new methods for prevention and treatment regime of emerging infections in Slovenia. 3. Discovering important factors in host parasite relationship in infection diseases common in Slovenia. 4. Study of genetic variability of Slovenian isolates. The introduction of modern molecular techniques to contemporary diagnostic protocols. 5. Our investigation should influence basic strategy for infection surveillance in Slovenia, economic planning and organisation of public health system. The educational system on experts of microbiology and immunology should be modified by results of the presented resaerch program.