We explore adaptive theories for the diversity of translational binding based on the genetic code viewed as a primitive mechanism of resistance. Modifying the set of codons bound by tRNA anticodon molecules or changing the specificity of binding, reduces the replication rate of translational parasites such as viruses. Increased translational efficiency of the parasite requires a high degree of ...

Introduction Parasites play important roles in ecosystems. Through their interactions with host and vector species, they are capable of changing the behavior population dynamics shape entire communities. Over past years, many studies have acknowledged role parasitism for populations communities discovered regulatory functions vertebrate populations. Although birds a well-studied group vertebrat...

Coevolution with parasites is thought to maintain genetic diversity in host populations. However, while there are sound theoretical reasons to expect heterozygosity and parasite resistance to be related, this pattern has generally been shown only in inbred laboratory and island populations. This leaves doubt as to whether parasite-mediated selection for genetic diversity is in fact a general pr...

We quantified the clonal diversity of the New Zealand marine trematode Maritrema novaezealandensis (n = 1250) within Zeacumantus subcarinatus snail (n = 25) and Macrophthalmus hirtipes crab (n = 25) intermediate hosts using four to six microsatellite loci, and investigated the potential biological and physical factors responsible for the observed genetic patterns. Individual snails harboured on...

The environment shapes host-parasite interactions, but how environmental variation affects the diversity and composition of parasite-defense genes of hosts is unresolved. In vertebrates, the highly variable major histocompatibility complex (MHC) gene family plays an essential role in the adaptive immune system by recognizing pathogen infection and initiating the cellular immune response. Invest...

Amoebiasis caused by the gastrointestinal parasite Entamoeba histolytica has diverse disease outcomes. Study of genome and evolution of this fascinating parasite will help us to understand the basis of its virulence and explain why, when and how it causes diseases. In this review, we have summarized current knowledge regarding evolutionary genomics of E. histolytica and discussed their associat...

Since its use as a model to study metazoan parasite culture and in vitro development, the plerocercoid of the tapeworm, Ligula intestinalis, has served as a useful scientific tool to study a range of biological factors, particularly within its fish intermediate host. From the extensive long-term ecological studies on the interactions between the parasite and cyprinid hosts, to the recent advanc...

Echinococcosis caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) is known as an important zoonotic disease in various parts of the world, including Iran. The genetic diversity of this parasite is very high, particularly in areas where the disease is endemic. It has been suggested in the literature from different parts of the world that diverse facto...

The published article may differ slightly from this version. Please check the published version for quotation and citation. Introduction Host-parasite diversity can be described in two different ways. The first is simply the observed variability among the hosts and parasites in a particular population. For example, Burdon and Jarosz (1991) classified 67 wild flax plants into 10 distinct resista...

Little is known regarding the diversity, distribution or host-parasite associations of Trypanosoma spp. in Australian wildlife. Here we report on an investigation based on divergence of the 18S rRNA gene of trypanosomes isolated from a range of hosts and varied geographical locations. A total of 371 individuals representing 19 species of native animals from 14 different locations were screened....