Evolutionary approaches to decode host-parasite interactions in malaria

If you are interested in joining the seminar, please contact: vseminars@mpiib-berlin.mpg.de

Once registered, you will receive a zoom conference link 30 mins before the talk starts - please sign in using your full name.

Talk abstract:

Malaria parasites have had an important influence on recent human evolution, driving the spread of variants with some of the strongest evidence for natural selection in the human genome. In turn, malaria parasites are under intense selective pressures to survive in the host environment with at least five species currently adapted to the human host. The evolutionary adaptations in both host and parasite provide an opportunity to learn about the dynamics of their co-evolution and to identify aspects of each species’ biology where susceptibility has been successfully modulated. In this talk, I will present examples of evolutionary approaches we are taking to gain insight into host and parasite co-evolution, focusing on the red blood cell-parasite interface.