Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections?
Abstract Background Parasites incur periodic mutations which must ultimately be eliminated to maintain their genetic integrity. Methods It is hypothesised that these mutations are eliminated not by the conventional mechanisms of competition between parasites in different hosts but primarily by compe...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:828f41d9f5ca4f548cd4c4d080b50cb5 2023-05-15T15:01:41+02:00 Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? Paget-McNicol S Hastings Ian M Saul A 2004-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 https://doaj.org/article/828f41d9f5ca4f548cd4c4d080b50cb5 EN eng BMC http://www.malariajournal.com/content/3/1/2 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/828f41d9f5ca4f548cd4c4d080b50cb5 Malaria Journal, Vol 3, Iss 1, p 2 (2004) Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 article 2004 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 2022-12-30T22:08:25Z Abstract Background Parasites incur periodic mutations which must ultimately be eliminated to maintain their genetic integrity. Methods It is hypothesised that these mutations are eliminated not by the conventional mechanisms of competition between parasites in different hosts but primarily by competition between parasites within the same infection. Results This process is enhanced by the production of a large number of parasites within individual infections, and this may significantly contribute to parasitic virulence. Conclusions Several features of the most virulent human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can usefully be re-interpreted in this light and lend support to this interpretation. More generally, it constitutes a novel explanation for the evolution of virulence in a wider range of microparasites. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Malaria Journal 3 1 2 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
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Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 Paget-McNicol S Hastings Ian M Saul A Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
topic_facet |
Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Infectious and parasitic diseases RC109-216 |
description |
Abstract Background Parasites incur periodic mutations which must ultimately be eliminated to maintain their genetic integrity. Methods It is hypothesised that these mutations are eliminated not by the conventional mechanisms of competition between parasites in different hosts but primarily by competition between parasites within the same infection. Results This process is enhanced by the production of a large number of parasites within individual infections, and this may significantly contribute to parasitic virulence. Conclusions Several features of the most virulent human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum can usefully be re-interpreted in this light and lend support to this interpretation. More generally, it constitutes a novel explanation for the evolution of virulence in a wider range of microparasites. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Paget-McNicol S Hastings Ian M Saul A |
author_facet |
Paget-McNicol S Hastings Ian M Saul A |
author_sort |
Paget-McNicol S |
title |
Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
title_short |
Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
title_full |
Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
title_fullStr |
Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Can mutation and selection explain virulence in human P. falciparum infections? |
title_sort |
can mutation and selection explain virulence in human p. falciparum infections? |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2004 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 https://doaj.org/article/828f41d9f5ca4f548cd4c4d080b50cb5 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic |
genre_facet |
Arctic |
op_source |
Malaria Journal, Vol 3, Iss 1, p 2 (2004) |
op_relation |
http://www.malariajournal.com/content/3/1/2 https://doaj.org/toc/1475-2875 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 1475-2875 https://doaj.org/article/828f41d9f5ca4f548cd4c4d080b50cb5 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-3-2 |
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Malaria Journal |
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3 |
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1 |
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2 |
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1766333690787397632 |