Professor of Tropical Medicine

Molecular Parasitology
Institute of Specific Prophylaxis and Tropical Medicine
Center for Pathophysiology, Infectiology and Immunology
Medical University of Vienna
Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria

Phone: +43 (0)1 40160 - 38240
FAX: +43 (0)1 40160 - 938233

E-mail: julia.walochnik@meduniwien.ac.at
Homepage: http://www.meduniwien.ac.at/immunologie/ellmeier/

Research Interests
Acanthamoeba infections, amoebae as hosts for bacteria, Leishmania spp. and leishmanioses, protozoa as human pathogens, protozoan molecular phylogeny.

Molecular Parasitology

Abstract

The research unit Molecular Parasitology aims to understand the interactions between protozoan parasites and their hosts on the molecular level.

Our major research interest is the pathomechanism of Acanthamoeba infections.
In numerous collaborative research projects, we have shown that some virulence factors vary dramatically depending on growth conditions and how protease activities correlate to pathogenic potential, we have contributed to the elucidation of encystation enabling the amoebae to reside in the tissue and investigated host-parasite interactions, such as complement activation and evasion.
Moreover, we have been working on the role of amoebae as vehicles for bacteria, particularly in service water, and are aiming to understand how amoebal passages trigger bacterial infectivity.

The second focus of our research lies on vector-borne protozoan pathogens. We are currently collaborating in several projects on Leishmania spp., leishmanioses and sandflies and on Babesia spp., babesioses and ticks.

Apart from our research work, we are involved in routine diagnostics of parasitic infections with a special focus on protozoal infections.