Dr. Maria Antoniou

Biography

DR. MARIA ANTONIOU EDUCATION/TRAINING INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE YEAR(s) FIELD OF STUDY Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London University. B.Sc. ARCS 1973-1976 Zoology Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London University. M.Sc D.I.C 1978-1979 ParasitologyNematology Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London University. Ph.D 1980- 1983 ParasitologyNematology Faculte de Medecine, Marseille, France, INSERM U sabbatical 1997-1998 Leishmaniasis 2 2 Date of birth: 15th August, 1952 Place of birth: Famagusta, Cyprus Nationality: Cypriot, Greek Address: Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology, Parasitology, Zoonoses and Tropical Medicine. University of Crete, Faculty of Medicine, Voutes, 71003, Iraklion, Crete, Greece.

Research Interest

Research interests during the last years are focused on: The Protozoan parasites Leishmania and Toxoplasma and the epidemiology of Zoonoses using GIS technology. Epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Greece and Cyprus, isolation of the parasite from patients, dogs and sandflies, study of the geographical distribution of Leishmania strains and its vectors. Studies in relation to the biology of the Leishmania parasite and its resistance to drugs. Vaccine trials for leishmaniasis on dogs in Crete. Figure. Location of Pgp molecules in the body of Leishmania observed under Confocal Microscopy. Leishmania amastigotes (inside THP-1 infected cells) marked with double immunofluorescence: positive dog serum and FITC (green signal) (a); Pgp 170 molecules marked with the C219 monoclonal antibody and the infrared Cy3 antimouse IgG secondary antibody (red signal) (b); overlay of image a and b (c). Image c confirms the location of Pgp 170 molecules on the membrane of the parasite body. The Pgp 170 molecules marked with the C219, after gold labeling, were found mainly on the cellular membrane of the parasite under TEM. (Messaritakis et al., 2008)