DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Transmission biology and gametocyte gender ratio of a malaria parasite

论文研究：疟原虫的传播生物学和配子体性别比例

• 批准号: 1310743
• 负责人: Joseph Schall
• 金额: $ 1.98万
• 依托单位: University of Vermont & State Agricultural College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-06-15 至 2015-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1310743&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Transmission; biology; gametocyte

Malaria parasites produce male and female cells within the blood of their vertebrate host (e.g. humans, birds, or lizards) that infect the blood-feeding insects that transmit them. The proportion of male vs. female cells influences the number of new parasites produced following mating, and Sex Ratio Theory predicts the best ratio that will maximize parasite transmission success. The graduate student developed new predictions for the optimal sex ratio based on the parasite?s transmission, which is that proportionally fewer parasites surviving within-insect development should favor sex ratios nearer 1:1. Insects will be infected with multiple strains of a lizard malaria parasite. Parasite numbers and the abundance of different strains will be monitored throughout development using newly-developed techniques in molecular genetics.This study is important for understanding not only the sex ratio of malaria parasites, but also malaria transmission in general. This lizard parasite is of particular interest because it has the fastest known within-insect development. Monitoring proportions of strains may help understand patterns of genetic diversity, which relate to drug resistance and virulence. This project will provide opportunities for undergraduates and younger students to gain research experience, including directly funding one undergraduate field assistant. Data, animations, and research descriptions will be available online (www.uvm.edu/~aneal/homepage.html).

疟疾寄生虫在其脊椎动物宿主的血液中产生雄性和雌性细胞（例如人类，鸟类或蜥蜴），从而感染了传播它们的血液喂食昆虫。男性与雌性细胞的比例影响交配后产生的新寄生虫的数量，性别比例理论预测了最佳比例，从而最大程度地提高了寄生虫的传播成功。研究生根据寄生虫的传播制定了针对最佳性别比例的新预测，而在侵入发展内生存的寄生寄生虫相称的寄生虫应有利于1：1的性别比例。昆虫将被多种蜥​​蜴疟疾寄生虫感染。寄生虫数量和大量不同菌株将在分子遗传学中新开发的技术进行整个发育中的监测。这项研究对于理解疟疾人寄生虫的性别比不仅重要，而且对疟疾的传播也很重要。这种蜥蜴寄生虫特别感兴趣，因为它具有最快的已知内部发展发展。监测菌株的比例可能有助于了解与耐药性和毒力有关的遗传多样性模式。该项目将为大学生和年轻学生提供获得研究经验的机会，包括直接为一名本科助手提供资金。数据，动画和研究描述将在线提供（www.uvm.edu/~aneal/homepage.html）。