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Parasitic Infections
Introduction
General Information
Research Plans & Priorities
Meetings
See also: DMID's Malaria
Research Program and the International
Centers for Tropical Disease Research.
Introduction
Diseases caused by protozoan and helminth parasites are among the leading
causes of death and disease in tropical and subtropical regions of the
world. Efforts to control the invertebrate vector (carrier, such as
the mosquito) of these diseases is, in many cases, difficult as a result
of pesticide resistance, concerns regarding environmental damage and
lack of adequate infrastructure to apply existing vector control methods.
Thus, control of these diseases relies heavily on the availability of
drugs. Unfortunately, most existing therapeutics are either incompletely
effective or toxic to the human host. In a number of cases, even safe
and effective drugs are failing as a result of the selection and spread
of drug resistant variants of the parasites. This is best dramatized
by the global spread of drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum,
the organism responsible for the most lethal form of malaria. New therapeutic
agents are therefore urgently needed.
Along with malaria, parasitic diseases studied at NIAID include Schistosomiasis,
Filariasis, Trypanosomiasis, and Leishmaniasis, to name only a few.
DMIDs Parasitic Disease Research Program supports research on these
and orther diseases, including basic parasite biology, diagnosis, immunology
and vaccine development, pathogenesis, drug discovery and development,
and vector biology. The Tropical Disease Research Units (TDRU) program
at NIAID provides vital infrastructure to this research effort. Multidisciplinary
teams of TDRU scientists apply the latest techniques in biotechnology
to discover, validate, and test new vaccines, chemotherapies, or vector-control
strategies to limit parasitic diseases that affect human health. The
TDRUs also serve U.S. scientific interests by supporting centers that
provide opportunities for research and training on parasitic diseases.
Such stable academic environments help ensure that the United States
can maintain a cadre of investigators in this field.
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General Information
- Overviews
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- Fact Sheets and Brochures
- News Releases
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Sept. 9, 2003 - NIAID Launches Malaria Vaccine Trial in Africa
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Oct. 2, 2002 - Parasite,
Mosquito Genomes Complete Malaria Picture
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Oct. 2, 2002 - Gene's Role
in Malaria Drug Resistance Proved
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Jul. 17, 2002 - Genetic
Studies Shed Light on Malaria Parasite's Origins and Drug Resistance
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Dec. 17, 2001 - Scientists
Milk Animals for Malaria Vaccine
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Aug. 8, 2001 - NIAID Awards Grant
to Rapidly Sequence the Malaria Mosquito Genome
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Aug. 2, 2001 - Scientists
Find Drastic Underestimations of Malaria Morbidity, Mortality, and Economic
Burden
- Aug. 6, 2001 – Component
of Fly Saliva Makes Promising Leishmaniasis Vaccine
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May 7, 2001 - A Parasite, a
Virus, and a Bacterium: NIAID's Plan to Tackle the World's Leading Killers
- March 1, 2001 - Statement by Dr. Fauci on Anopheles gambiae
Genome Sequencing Project
DMID Press Releases
NIAID Newsroom
- Conferences and Meetings
- Staff Presentations and Papers
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Research Plans & Priorities
- Opportunities & Resources
- CONCEPTS CLEARED
- Funding Opportunities
See Also: Contract Management Branch
and Initiatives (Grants).
- RESEARCHER RESOURCES
- Parasitic Infection Research
Support (Two repositories to assist scientists studying schistosomiasis
and filariasis. One repository provides rodent definitive
hosts and snail intermediate hosts infected with Schistosoma
species. A second repository provides mammalian definitive hosts
and arthropod intermediate hosts infected with Brugia malayi,
B. pahangi, or Dirofilaria immitis.)
- POLICIES, GUIDELINES, AND ADVICE FOR APPLICANTS
- Clinical Trials
- INTRAMURAL
- 00-I-0099:
Langerhans' Cell Function and Inflammatory Responses in Skin of
Normal Volunteers and Patients with Helminth Infections Using
the Suction Blister Technique
- 99-I-0149:
Analysis of the Occurrence of Perilesional Edema and Seizures
in Patients With Inactive Cysticercosis
- 97-I-0096:
Evaluation, Treatment, and Monitoring of Patients With Known or
Suspected Parasitic Infection
- EXTRAMURAL
Projects Sponsored by the International
Centers for Tropical Disease Research (ICTDR)
Federally and Privately Supported Clinical Trials: Clinicaltrials.gov
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- Intramural Labs at NIAID
Meetings
See: NIAID
Calendar of Events.
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