Working group (Pavla Sojková)

This research group focuses on the study of molecules that play a key role in host-parasite interactions, using the model system of the pathogenic myxozoan Sphaerospora molnari and common carp. As part of myxozoan research, we also explore the diversity and cophylogeny of myxosporeans and their ancient hosts. At the same time, we study the diversity and evolution of unicellular bee parasites, with an emphasis on evaluating the pathogenicity of newly identified species. Our research employs a wide range of molecular-biological and bioinformatics methods aimed at a detailed analysis of interactions between the studied parasites and their hosts.

Funded projects in the last 5 years:

Sojková P.: Czech Science Foundation (GAČR)/Panel P502/Project No. 25-16047S, for 2025–2027: Hidden in the honeycomb: Microsporidian and trypanosomatid parasites in bees identified by metabarcoding approach.

Dobai T.: Grant of the School of Doctoral Studies of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice/for 2025: Functional analysis of the Sphaerospora molnari hemoglobinolytic cascade and the role of cathepsin D within.

Frišová K.: Student Grant Agency of the Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia (SGA)/for 2025: The diversity and evolution of myxozoans in cartilaginous fishes of the North Atlantic.

Sojková P.: Czech Science Foundation (GAČR)/Lead Agency Grant with FWF/Panel OKG/Project No. 24-13238L, for 2024–2027: Food or Foe: Interaction of myxozoans with red blood cells.

Nayak S.: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MŠMT)/Inter-Excellence Program/Subprogram Inter-Action in cooperation with Israel/Project No. LUAIZ24009, for 2024–2029: Harnessing the Win-Win potential: Enhancing sustainability and disease control in aquaculture by using black soldier fly larvae fed on agricultural waste.

Sojková P.: Czech Science Foundation (GAČR)/Panel P502/Project No. 21-16565S, for 2021–2023: Myxozoan cystatins and fish host cathepsins: Revealing potential crosstalk during infection.

Sojková P.: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (MŠMT)/Inter-Excellence Program/Subprogram Inter-Action/Project No. LTAUSA17201, for 2017–2021: Inhibitors of cysteine proteases crucial for myxozoan pathogenicity and their interaction with the fish host.

Selected publications:

Bartošová-Sojková P., Butenko A., Richtová J., Oborník M., Fiala I., Lukeš J. 2024. Inside the Host: Understanding the Evolutionary Trajectory of Intracellular Parasitism. Annual Reviews of Microbiology 78, 3.1–3.21. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041222-025305 

Dobai T., Bartošová-Sojková P. 2024. Sphaerospora molnari. Trends in Parasitology 40, 352-353. DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.12.011

Lisnerová M., Martinek I.N., Alama-Bermejo G., Bouberlová K., Schaeffner B.C., Nkabi N., Holzer A.S., Bartošová-Sojková P. 2022: An ancient alliance: matching evolutionary patterns of cartilaginous fishes (Elasmobranchii) and chloromyxid parasites (Myxozoa). Infection Genetics and Evolution 103: 105346. DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105346

Alama Bermejo G., Bartošová-Sojková P., Atkinson S.D., Holzer A., Bartholomew J.L. 2022: Proteases as therapeutic targets against the parasitic cnidarian Ceratonova shasta: characterization of molecules key to parasite virulence in salmonid hosts. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 11: 804864. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.804864

Lisnerová M., Lisner A., Cantatore D., Schaeffner B. C., Pecková H., Tyml T., Fiala I., Bartošová-Sojková P., Holzer A. S. 2021: Correlated evolution of fish host length and parasite spore size: a tale from myxosporeans inhabiting elasmobranchs. International Journal for Parasitology 52: 97–110. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.05.008

Bartošová-Sojková P., Kyslík J., Alama-Bermejo G., Hartigan A., Atkinson S.D., Bartholomew J.L., Picard-Sánchez A., Palenzuela O., Faber M.N., Holland J.W., Holzer A.S. 2021: Evolutionary analysis of cystatins of early-emerging metazoans reveals a novel subtype in parasitic cnidarians. Biology 10: 110. DOI: 10.3390/biology10020110

Lisnerová M., Fiala I., Cantatore D., Irigoitia M., Timi J., Pecková H., Bartošová-Sojková P., Sandoval C.M., Luer C., Morris J., Holzer A.S. 2020: Mechanisms and drivers for the establishment of life cycle complexity in myxozoan parasites. Biology 9: 10. DOI: 10.3390/biology9010010

Eszterbauer E., Sipos D., Kaján G.L., Szegő D., Fiala I., Holzer A.S., Bartošová-Sojková P. 2020: Genetic diversity of serine protease inhibitors in myxozoan (Cnidaria, Myxozoa) fish parasites. Microorganisms 8:e1502. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8101502

Kosakyan A., Alama-Bermejo G., Bartošová-Sojková P., Born-Torrijos A., Šíma R., Nenarokova A., Eszterbauer E., Bartholomew J., Holzer A. S. 2019: Selection of suitable reference genes for gene expression studies in myxosporean (Myxozoa, Cnidaria) parasites. Scientific Reports 9: 15073. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51479-0