Within-host speciation of malaria parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sympatric speciation-the divergence of populations into new species in absence of geographic barriers to hybridization-is the most debated mode of diversification of life forms. Parasitic organisms are prominent models for sympatric speciation, because they may colonise new hosts within the same geographic area and diverge through host specialization. However, it has been argued that this mode of parasite divergence is not strict sympatric speciation, because host shifts likely cause the sudden effective isolation of parasites, particularly if these are transmitted by vectors and therefore cannot select their hosts. Strict sympatric speciation would involve parasite lineages diverging within a single host species, without any population subdivision.

Methodology/princi

SUBMITTER: Perez-Tris J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1794596 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature