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Protocol for Production of a Genetic Cross of the Rodent Malaria Parasites
Published on: January 3, 2011
Malaria and trypanosome transmission: different parasites, same rules?
Laura C Pollitt1, Paula MacGregor, Keith Matthews
1Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK. laura.pollitt@ed.ac.uk
Abstract:
African trypanosomes produce different specialized stages for within-host replication and between-host transmission and therefore face a resource allocation trade-off between maintaining the current infection (survival) and investment into transmission (reproduction). Evolutionary theory predicts the resolution of this trade-off will significantly affect virulence and infectiousness. The application of life history theory to malaria parasites has provided novel insight into their strategies for survival and reproduction; how this framework can now be applied to trypanosomes is discussed. Specifically, predictions for how parasites trade-off investment in survival and transmission in response to variation in the within-host environment are outlined. An evolutionary approach has the power to explain why patterns of investment vary between strains and during infections, giving important insights into parasite biology.
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