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A comparative genomic approach to investigate the molecular basis of host cell specificity and
hemozoin formation in malaria parasites
P.R.I.M.E. Research Project
Janus Borner
20 November 2017
Malaria
● 429,000 deaths worldwide in 2015 (WHO 2016)
● caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium
● transmitted via mosquitoes
● malaria parasites infect nearly all terrestrial vertebrate groups
● at least five species have independently acquired the ability to infect humans
Typical Plasmodium life cycle
● asexual reproduction in the red blood cells
● hemoglobin digestion → formation of hemozoin
● sequencing efforts have focused on the agents of human malaria and on Plasmodium parasites with similar biology(model species) from:
● apes
● monkeys
● rodents
Genome projects
A three-species system
● P.R.I.M.E. project focuses on Plasmodium parasites with atypical life history traits
● three Plasmodium species infect the same Anolis host:
● P. floridense follows the typical Plasmodium life cycle
● P. leucocytica infects leukocytes instead of erythrocytes
● P. azurophilum infects erythrocytes but does not produce hemozoin
Comparative genomic approach
● comparison of genome data may help identify new genes that are involved in the recognition and invasion of host cells and the formation of hemozoin pigment
● key pathways for parasite survival
● I will look for evidence of positive selection, gene family expansion/contraction, loss of function
Scientific hosts
● genome sequencing and annotation will be carried out at the American Museum of Natural History (New York) in the lab of Prof. Dr. Susan Perkins
Scientific hosts
● bioinformatic analyses of adaptive evolutionary processes will be performed at the University of Ulm in the lab of Prof. Dr. Simone Sommer