Interaction of Cryptosporidium lifecycle stages with aquatic biofilm communities

隐孢子虫是世界范围内人类肠道疾病的最常见的非病毒原因，并且作为家畜和野生动物疾病的原因越来越重要。它是最重要的水传播病原体之一，也是供水公司提供安全饮用水的主要挑战。生物膜是隐孢子虫生态系统中研究较少的组成部分，可以作为储水和管道中寄生虫的环境水库，也是不可预测的水污染源。该项目将调查该水库的性质和支持寄生虫生存的因素，以期提供有价值的信息，限制生物膜水库的公共卫生意义。

Cryptosporidium is the most common non-viral cause of diarrhoeal disease in humans worldwide, and of increasing significance as a cause of disease in livestock and wildlife. It is one of the most significant waterborne pathogens and a major challenge to the provision of safe drinking water by water utilities. Biofilms are a poorly studied component of Cryptosporidium's ecosystem, and can act as an environmental reservoir of the parasite in water storages and pipes and an unpredictable source of water contamination. This project will investigate the nature of this reservoir and factors that support the parasite's survival with a view to providing information of value in limiting the public health significance of the biofilm reservoir.