Do malaria parasites follow the algebra of sex ratio theory?

Trends Parasitol

Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.

Published: March 2009

The ratio of male to female gametocytes seen in infections of Plasmodium and related haemosporidian parasites varies substantially, both within and among parasite species. Sex ratio theory, a mainstay of evolutionary biology, accounts for this variation. The theory provides an algebraic solution for the optimal sex ratio that will maximize parasite fitness. A crucial term in this solution is the probability of selfing by clone-mates within the vector (based on the clone number and their relative abundance). Definitive tests of the theory have proven elusive because of technical challenges in measuring clonal diversity within infections. Newly developed molecular methods now provide opportunities to test the theory with an exquisite precision.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pt.2008.12.006DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

sex ratio
12
malaria parasites
4
parasites follow
4
follow algebra
4
algebra sex
4
ratio
4
ratio theory?
4
theory? ratio
4
ratio male
4
male female
4

Similar Publications

: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder that has been linked to hyperhomocysteinemia and folate deficiency. These conditions are influenced by the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase () gene, which plays a crucial role in converting homocysteine to methionine and is essential for folate metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis, including serotonin. : This study explored the association between and polymorphisms among Saudi MDD patients attending the Erada Complex for Mental Health and Erada Services outpatient clinic in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Considering that peripheral blood biomarkers are prognostic predictors for several human tumors, this study aimed to comparatively analyze the association of hematological alterations with the incidence of epithelial dysplasia (ED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in male and female mice treated with 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4NQO) and ethanol (EtOH).

Methods: 120 C57Bl/6J mice (60 males and 60 females) were allocated to four groups (n = 15). They were treated firstly either with 5 mg/mL propylene glycol (PPG) or 100 μg/mL 4NQO in the drinking water for 10 weeks, followed by sterilized water (HO) or 8% EtOH (v/v) for 15 weeks, as follows: PPG/HO, PPG/EtOH, 4NQO/HO, and 4NQO/EtOH (CEUA-UFU, #020/21).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To investigate the prospective associations between age and the risk of low back disorders (LBD), dorsal disorders (DD), and cervical disorders (CD), and to identify a potential age-threshold for increased risk of back disorders.

Methods: Prospective cohort from the UK Biobank comprising adults with no history of back disorders. We examined different ages and their association with the risk of back disorders derived from diagnoses of hospital registers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The prevalence of food addiction and its association with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Br J Nutr

January 2025

Laboratório de Nutrição e Metabolismo, Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil.

To determine the prevalence of FA in individuals with type 2 diabetes and to assess the association between FA and type 2 diabetes. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Sciences, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PsycINFO were searched until November 2024. This study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023465903).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

With the rise in fast-food culture and the continued high numbers of tobacco-related deaths, there has been a great deal of interest in understanding the relationship between high-fat diet (HFD) and nicotine use behaviors. Using adult mice and a patch-clamp electrophysiology assay, we investigated the influence of HFD on the excitability of ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons and pyramidal neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) given their role in modulating the reinforcing effects of nicotine and natural rewards. We then examined whether HFD-induced changes in peripheral markers were associated with nicotine use behaviors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!