Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Earth Science News .




EPIDEMICS
Parasitism runs deep in malaria's family tree
by Staff Writers
Vancouver, Canada (SPX) Feb 27, 2015


This photomicrograph shows a mature Plasmodium malariae schizont within an infected RBC. This mature P. malariae schizont is contained within a normal sized RBC. The parasite contains 6-12 merozoites with large nuclei, and has a coarse, dark brown pigment. Image courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Image Library.

The ancestors of a large family of parasites - including those that cause malaria - were equipped to become parasites much earlier in their lineage than previously assumed, according to University of British Columbia (UBC) research.

The work, published this week in PNAS, traces the emergence of parasitism among apicomplexans - complex, single cell parasites that possess highly specialized tools to invade host cells and tissues.

"Apicomplexans' ancestors possessed the hardware required to infect other cells long before they diverged from their largely non-parasitic relatives," says UBC evolutionary biologist Patrick Keeling, lead author on the study. "They just used the tools in a more benign way."

All members of the apicomplexan phylum evolved from a free-living ancestor hundreds of millions of years ago. But little is known about how, or when, they adapted the specialized organelle that enables them to parasitize animals. Intriguingly, some of their closest relatives are photosynthetic algae that live symbiotically with coral.

To flush out the family tree, Keeling and colleagues used advanced genomic analysis to reconstructed the evolution of the lineage's infection and photosynthetic processes. Importantly, they combined the genomic sequencing with observations of the structure and behavior of the cells.

"Complex cells like these have flexible behavioural strategies in the wild that the genome alone doesn't illustrate," says Keeling. "So we also need to observe how the cells are built and function to get a complete picture of their evolution and their ecological role under different conditions."

In a related review published last week in Science, Keeling and colleagues outline how important this comprehensive approach is. Other complex eukaryotic cells like algae are key players in major ecosystems such as the world's oceans. The scientists argue that without stepping up to this challenge researchers risk misunderstanding fundamental properties of these ecosystems.

In addition to malaria, parasites in the apicomplexan family cause toxoplasmosis (usually carried by cats, but also carried by a third of the world's human population) and cryptosporidiosis (which affects the intestines).


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
University of British Columbia
Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








EPIDEMICS
Black Death: Don't blame the rats, it was the gerbils
Oslo, Norway (UPI) Feb 24, 2015
In the 14th century, Black Death spread across Europe and central Asia, killing nearly half of the western continent's population. Until now, black rats have shouldered much of the blame, but new research suggests giant gerbils of central Asia may have played a larger role in transporting the disease. Researchers at Norway's University of Oslo recently looked at tree rings in Europe and ... read more


EPIDEMICS
Afghan president pledges relief fund for avalanche victims

Death toll from Afghan avalanches tops 200: officials

More than 100 dead in Afghanistan avalanches: officials

Calling on satellites in alpine rescues

EPIDEMICS
Japan's NTT to buy German data centre operator: report

Moving molecule writes letters

New filter could advance terahertz data transmission

A simple way to make and reconfigure complex emulsions

EPIDEMICS
New algal species helps corals survive in the hottest reefs on the planet

Isolated wetlands have significant impact on water quality

Climate-warmed leaves change lake ecosystems

Japan developing 12,000-meter-depth submersible to search seafloor

EPIDEMICS
The past might tell what the future holds for Greenland meltdown

NASA measures frigid cloud top temps of the Arctic air outbreak

Iceland rises as its glaciers melt from climate change

Arctic sea ice loss expected to be bumpy in the short term

EPIDEMICS
Regulating genome-edited crops that aren't GMOs

Australia to tighten food labelling laws after China scare

Gene may help reduce GM contamination

Farmers can better prevent nutrient runoff based on land characteristics

EPIDEMICS
Flooding in Madagascar capital kills at least 14: rescuers

Gaza floods: dispelling the myth about Israeli 'dams'

New volcano island getting big in Japan

Volcanic ash forces Mexican airport closure

EPIDEMICS
Zambia's ex-mines minister jailed for graft over Chinese licence

Mali government signs peace deal, Tuareg rebels delay

Nigerian army chief visits Baga, vows 'war is almost ended'

WHO seeks $1 bn more for four conflict-hit countries

EPIDEMICS
How does the human brain tackle problems it did not evolve to solve?

Nanotech and genetic interference may tackle untreatable brain tumors

Brain makes decisions with same method used to break WW2 Enigma code

Ancient and modern cities aren't so different




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.