Modeling the genetic relatedness of Plasmodium falciparum parasites following meiotic recombination and cotransmission.

ABSTRACT: Unlike in most pathogens, multiple-strain (polygenomic) infections of P. falciparum are frequently composed of genetic siblings. These genetic siblings are the result of sexual reproduction and can coinfect the same host when cotransmitted by the same mosquito. The degree with which coinfecting strains are related varies among infections and populations. Because sexual recombination occurs within the mosquito, the relatedness of cotransmitted strains could depend on transmission dynamics, but little is actually known of the factors that influence the relatedness of cotransmitted strains. Part of the uncertainty stems from an incomplete understanding of how within-host and within-vector dynamics affect cotransmission. Cotransmission is difficult to examine experimentally but can be explored

SUBMITTER: Wong W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5777656 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature