Red algal parasites: models for a life history evolution that leaves photosynthesis behind again and again.
Bioessays
; 34(3): 226-35, 2012 Mar.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22247039
ABSTRACT
Many of the most virulent and problematic eukaryotic pathogens have evolved from photosynthetic ancestors, such as apicomplexans, which are responsible for a wide range of diseases including malaria and toxoplasmosis. The primary barrier to understanding the early stages of evolution of these parasites has been the difficulty in finding parasites with closely related free-living lineages with which to make comparisons. Parasites found throughout the florideophyte red algal lineage, however, provide a unique and powerful model to investigate the genetic origins of a parasitic lifestyle. This is because they share a recent common ancestor with an extant free-living red algal species and parasitism has independently arisen over 100 times within this group. Here, we synthesize the relevant hypotheses with respect to how these parasites have proliferated. We also place red algal research in the context of recent developments in understanding the genome evolution of other eukaryotic photosynthesizers turned parasites.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Fotossíntese
/
Evolução Molecular
/
Rodófitas
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article