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In recent years, parasitologists have learned much about the way in which parasite biochemistry differs from that of free-living organisms. Inside the host, factors such as temperature, oxygen tension, carbon dioxide concentration and pH have important consequences for the biochemistry and physiology of the parasitic organism. Strong selection pressure therefore operates at all stages of a parasite's life cycle. The parasite's adaptational response to this pressure is the subject of this book.
Sommario
Part 1 The nature of parasite adaptation: what is a parasite?; the host-parasite relationship; the evolution of the host-parasite relationship; the role of the parasites in evolution; the frequency of parasitism; ecological aspects of parasitism; what is a strain?; are strain varieties adaptive?; biochemical adaptations and life cycles; the physicochemical characteristics of parasite environments; ectoparasitism and the invasion of the host; inside the host. Part 2 Energy metabolism: energy metabolism in protozoa and in helminths; adaptation and energy metabolism. Part 3 Digestion and uptake of nutrients: absorption from the medium; folic acid metabolism; lipids and lipid metabolism; purines, pyrimidines and their salvage. Part 4 Host immunity and parasite adaptation: evolution of multicellularity; evolution of immune systems; evolutionary outcomes of host/parasite immunological interaction; population characteristics of parasite infections; immunological interaction between hosts and parasites. Part 5 Biochemical adaptation and the "magic bullet": chemotherapy; drug targets in parasites; conclusions: adaptation to parasitism? Part 6 Biochemical variation in parasites: the "founder" principle; parsimony, conservatism and optimization; experimental detection of variation; resistance to antiparasitic compounds.
Riassunto
This book attempts to place what is known about the biochemistry of parasites in a biological context covering evolution, ecology, adaptation and variation. In addition there is a chapter on parasite immunology.
Relazione
...Biochemical variation is widespread in parasites and this new book provides an excellent synopsis and discussion of this information, and will serve as an important reference to researchers and students interested in these topics. Veterinary Parasitology
