Genomic parasitology: New weapons against malaria and other tropical diseases

A malaria infection isn't just a war between the victim's immune system and a parasite. When the parasites' genomes are sequenced, scientists often find many genotypes competing within a single victim. The parasites' dauntingly complex community structure is one of the factors driving the continuing emergence of resistance to antimalarial drugs. Ian Cheeseman is applying population genetic theories to explain the dynamics of drug resistance. His colleague Tim Anderson is applying new genomic tools to a different fight, against schistosomiasis, where the dynamics of resistance and population are entirely different. They will bring both good and bad news from the frontiers of a field using genomics as a new weapon against parasites that are humanity's old and persistent enemies.

Social media hashtag: #parasitegenomics