The Unit of Helminthology (formally Zoonoses) is led by Dr. McCoy. The Unit is dedicated to combatting key helminth parasitoses, and better understanding the factors that contribute to parasite survival and transmission across both parasite-host and parasite-vector interfaces.

Helminth (round- and flatworm) parasites are an important group of pathogens that thrive at the interface between humans, animals and invertebrate vectors. These parasites, often characterised by complex multi-host life cycles, cause neglected diseases with a considerable public health and economic impact worldwide. Addressing these pathogens requires improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to parasite survival as well as an integrated One Health approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health.

Our primary focus is to study the impact of these diseases on the human and animal hosts, and to identify the animal, vector, and environmental factors driving the persistence and transmission to humans.

Main activities

Our research focuses on key insect-borne and food-borne parasite infections of public health importance, such as lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, cysticercosis, echinococcosis and fascioliasis.

Our current research lines include:

• Transmission dynamics: Unravelling the animal, vector, and environmental factors driving the persistence and transmission to humans, through integrated multi-host studies and multi-omics approaches.
• Diagnostic tool development and refinement: Optimisation of current existing techniques as well as pursuing novel diagnostics for detection of infection in humans, animals (including contaminated food sources) and vectors.
• Drug target identification and validation: Functional analysis of neuromuscular genes in parasitic nematodes to seed downstream drug development efforts (most available anthelmintics used to treat nematode infections act on neuromuscular ion channels).
• Host-parasite interactions: Mass spectrometry-based analyses of the molecular interface between the parasite and host immune system.

Education and training activities

Besides supervising students at different levels (bachelor's, master's and PhD), we teach in various postgraduate and master courses (on helminthology, parasitology, neglected tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, epidemiology, statistics) at ITM, the University of Antwerp, and Ghent University. At ITM, we are also course director of the Master of Science in Global One Health (MscGOH), and course coordinator of the modules Basic Epidemiology, Advanced Epidemiology, and Applied Helminthology of the MscGOH.

Capacity strengthening and service delivery

We are actively involved in various international cooperation and development programmes with partners in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia and Vietnam. Activities include building, reinforcing and supporting research capacity, mainly through training and joint research.

We host the National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella (NRLT) and other parasites. The NRLT provides support and guidance to Belgian routine laboratories, through training, communication sessions, provision of technical and scientific advice, control visits, organisation of ring tests, and confirmation and further examination of suspected cases of trichinellosis. The Belgian NLRT is part of a European network on food-borne parasites (EURLP). We also perform specialised examination of clinical samples sent by the Clinical Reference Laboratory of ITM.

Our research is closely linked with our training, teaching, service delivery, and capacity strengthening activities. Moreover, we collaborate with other groups and departments along cross-cutting themes. Examples are collaborations with the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research Group (e.g., prof. K. Polman) and the Clinical Tropical Medicine Research Group (e.g. prof. E. Bottieau).

Contact

Please do not hesitate to e-mail us for more information.