TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative genomics of malaria parasites
AU - Hall, Neil
AU - Carlton, Jane
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, US Department of Defense and the Wellcome Trust for their support of the Plasmodium genome sequencing initiatives.
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - In the past few years, the area of comparative genomics of malaria parasites has begun to come of age, with the completion of genome sequencing projects of four Plasmodium species, and several functional genomics studies. A picture is emerging of a parasite genome that is highly adapted to its mammalian and vector hosts, and which uses post-transcriptional gene-silencing as one method for the control of gene expression. The genome is compartmentalized into a core of conserved housekeeping genes, sandwiched between subtelomerically located genes encoding surface antigens. Species-specific gene families shape the preference of the parasite for host cells, in addition to determining interactions with the host immune-system. Recent research has led to the description of a motif that is conserved across Plasmodium species and which plays a central role in protein export into the host cell.
AB - In the past few years, the area of comparative genomics of malaria parasites has begun to come of age, with the completion of genome sequencing projects of four Plasmodium species, and several functional genomics studies. A picture is emerging of a parasite genome that is highly adapted to its mammalian and vector hosts, and which uses post-transcriptional gene-silencing as one method for the control of gene expression. The genome is compartmentalized into a core of conserved housekeeping genes, sandwiched between subtelomerically located genes encoding surface antigens. Species-specific gene families shape the preference of the parasite for host cells, in addition to determining interactions with the host immune-system. Recent research has led to the description of a motif that is conserved across Plasmodium species and which plays a central role in protein export into the host cell.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=27444439702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=27444439702&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.gde.2005.09.001
DO - 10.1016/j.gde.2005.09.001
M3 - Review article
C2 - 16182520
AN - SCOPUS:27444439702
VL - 15
SP - 609
EP - 613
JO - Current Opinion in Genetics and Development
JF - Current Opinion in Genetics and Development
SN - 0959-437X
IS - 6
ER -