PARASITE EVOLUTION · Microevolutionary and population dynamic processes in parasitic helminths
FP6 — Marie Curie Actions (Human Resources and Mobility)
- Duration
- 2007-01-11 → 2008-01-10
- EU contribution
- €40,000
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- ERG
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Results in brief
Final Activity Report Summary - PARASITE EVOLUTION (Microevolutionary and population dynamic processes in parasitic helminths)
Parasites represent a diverse group of biologically different organisms that are united only by their common lifestyle, which is spent either in or on the host, feeding on the tissues of the latter and causing it harm. Therefore, comparative studies are crucial. Here we apply this comparative approach by concentrating on two parasite groups that are known for their epidemic characteristics: Gyrodactylus salaris causes massive mortality in both wild and farmed salmon populations of Scandinavia while the human parasites Schistosoma mansoni and S. haematobium cause huge epidemics in African and South American countries (an estimated 207 million people worldwide are infected with Schistosoma spp.). Uncovering the transmission dynamics is crucial in studying the epidemiology of Gyrodactylus and Schistosoma spp., and population genetic studies are needed to assess the influence of control programs on the evolution of parasite populations. During the first year we developed new markers for both parasite groups that enable us to study their population genetic structure. A considerable amount of time and money has been spent on the optimization of these markers and processing of the Schistosoma samples. In the following year we will concentrate on Gyrodactylus. An extensive field campaign was carried out to collect Schistosoma parasites from school children in northern Senegal. These samples have been genotyped with our newly developed protocol. Subsequent data analysis revealed a surprising amount of genetic diversity for Schistosoma mansoni parasites, despite its recent introduction in the area (about 30 years ago). The population genetic analyses also show intense transmission dynamics between villages, most likely due to recent human migrations. This results in a continuous introduction of new parasite genotypes and the creation of new host-parasite combinations, which will have a profound impact on infection patterns and the evolution of disease outcome.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
This project makes full use of the experience, skills and contacts acquired during my postdoctoral stay abroad, allowing me to combine the expertise of three recognized institutes: The Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium, and the Natural History Museum London. This combination unites basic biological science, fisheries and aquaculture (KUL), parasitology and epidemiology (ITG and NHM), and genomics and population genetics (KUL). Such a multidisciplinary approach is becoming increasingly important in grasping complex problems like the epidemiology of parasitic diseases.Despite its enormous importance and huge potential, population genetic studies on helminth parasites are very rare. Amongst the three major components of a host-parasite interaction, the abiotic environment, host genetics and parasite genetics, the latter has been the least studied. We need to know how genotypes are distributed within and among parasite populations, and the epidemiological factors that determine these distributions. Here we apply a comparative approach by concentrating on two parasite groups that differ in important life history traits: Gyrodactylus spp. are ectoparasitic on teleosts (causing major problems in aquaculture), and Schistosoma spp. are endoparasites of mammals (of which humans, causing Bilharziosis). We will study the population genetic structure by means of microstatellite studies and sequencing of variable mtDNA fragments. By comparing the obtained results, we will be able to identify the factors that structure parasite populations.Apart from answering fundamental questions necessary to study the theory of speciation, there will be an added applied value to the obtained results. Uncovering transmission dynamics is crucial in studying the epidemiology of Schistosoma and Gyrodactylus spp., and population genetics studies are needed to study the effect of disease management on the evolution of parasite populations.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN · LEUVENCoordinatorCity levelBelgium
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union