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Babesia Life Cycle - When Phylogeny Meets Biology
Marie Jalovecka1, Daniel Sojka2, Mariano Ascencio3
1Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CZ-370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, CZ-370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Trends in Parasitology
|February 9, 2019
Summary
Babesia parasites, a veterinary and emerging human health threat, have unique survival strategies. This review details their molecular phylogeny and life cycle, identifying potential targets for new treatments.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Molecular phylogeny
- Apicomplexa biology
Background:
- Babesia are significant global veterinary pathogens with emerging human health risks.
- Babesia research lags behind Plasmodium, despite its complex intraerythrocytic and tick-borne life cycles.
- Understanding Babesia survival strategies is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present an extended molecular phylogeny of the order Piroplasmida.
- To compare Babesia developmental strategies with other haemoparasitic Apicomplexa.
- To identify molecular targets for Babesia-specific therapies.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of Piroplasmida using molecular data.
- Comparative analysis of Babesia life cycle stages and mechanisms.
- Literature review focusing on Babesia survival strategies.
Main Results:
- A revised molecular phylogeny for Piroplasmida, challenging existing classifications.
- Detailed insights into Babesia's intraerythrocytic development and tick transmission.
- Highlighting unique survival mechanisms of Babesia compared to related parasites.
Conclusions:
- The proposed phylogeny necessitates re-evaluation of Piroplasmida taxonomy.
- Babesia's specialized life cycle offers distinct therapeutic targets.
- Further research into Babesia molecular mechanisms can lead to novel treatments.
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