December 14, 2012

Delving into Pathogens' Past to Learn Secrets

Rachel Jarmy, PLoS Blogs

AP Photo

Long ago, when life on our planet was in its infancy, a group of small single-celled algae floating in the vast prehistoric ocean swam freely by beating whip-like tails, or flagella. Now, over 800 million years later, these organisms have evolved into parasites called Apicomplexa, but are better known as the parasites that cause Malaria and Toxoplasmosis—serious diseases that infect millions of people every year, particularly in the developing world.

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TAGGED: Fungal Infection, Evolutionary Biology, Fungus, Malaria