Evolution of Virulence in Eukaryotic Microbes

A unique and timely review of the emergence of eukaryotic virulence in fungi, oomycetes, and protozoa, as they affect both animals and plants Evolution of Virulence in Eukaryotic Microbes addresses new developments in defining the molecular basis of virulence in eukaryotic pathogens. By examining how pathogenic determinants have evolved in concert with their hosts, often overcoming innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, the book takes a fresh look at the selective processes that have shaped their evolution. Introductory chapters ground the reader in principal evolutionary themes such as phylogenetics and genetic exchange, building a basis of knowledge for later chapters covering advances in genetic tools, how pathogens exchange genetic material in nature, and the common themes of evolutionary adaptation that lead to disease in different hosts. With the goal of linking the research findings of the many disparate scientific communities in the field, the book: Assembles for the first time a collection of chapters on the diversity of eukaryotic microorganisms and the influence of evolutionary forces on the origins and emergence of their virulent attributes Highlights examples from three important, divergent groups of eukaryotic microorganisms that cause disease in animals and plants: oomycetes, protozoan parasites, and fungi Covers how the development of genetic tools has fostered the identification and functional analyses of virulence determinants Addresses how pathogens exchange genetic material in nature via classical or modified meiotic processes, horizontal gene transfer, and sexual cycles including those that are cryptic or even unisexual Provides a broad framework for formulating future studies by illustrating themes common to different pathogenic microbes Evolution of Virulence in Eukaryotic Microbes is an ideal book for microbiologists, evolutionary biologists and medical professionals, as well as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members working on the evolution of pathogens.

A unique and timely review of the emergence of eukaryotic virulence in fungi, oomycetes, and protozoa, as they affect both animals and plantsEvolution of Virulence in Eukaryotic Microbes addresses new developments in defining the molecular basis of virulence in eukaryotic pathogens. By examining how pathogenic determinants have evolved in concert with their hosts, often overcoming innate and adaptive immune mechanisms, the book takes a fresh look at the selective processes that have shaped their evolution.Introductory chapters ground the reader in principal evolutionary themes such as phylogenetics and genetic exchange, building a basis of knowledge for later chapters covering advances in genetic tools, how pathogens exchange genetic material in nature, and the common themes of evolutionary adaptation that lead to disease in different hosts.With the goal of linking the research findings of the many disparate scientific communities in the field, the book:* Assembles for the first time a collection of chapters on the diversity of eukaryotic microorganisms and the influence of evolutionary forces on the origins and emergence of their virulent attributes* Highlights examples from three important, divergent groups of eukaryotic microorganisms that cause disease in animals and plants: oomycetes, protozoan parasites, and fungi* Covers how the development of genetic tools has fostered the identification and functional analyses of virulence determinants* Addresses how pathogens exchange genetic material in nature via classical or modified meiotic processes, horizontal gene transfer, and sexual cycles including those that are cryptic or even unisexual* Provides a broad framework for formulating future studies by illustrating themes common to different pathogenic microbesEvolution of Virulence in Eukaryotic Microbes is an ideal book for microbiologists, evolutionary biologists and medical professionals, as well as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members working on the evolution of pathogens.

General Overviews1) Population genetics and parasite diversityHsiao-Han Chang, Rachel F. Daniels and Daniel L. Hartl2) Evolution of Meiosis, Recombination, and Sexual Reproduction in Eukaryotic MicrobesWenjun Li, Elizabeth Savelkoul, Joseph Heitman and John M. Logsdon, Jr.3) Phylogenomic AnalysisAndrew J. Roger, Martin Kolisko and Alastair G. B. Simpson4) Phylogenetics and Evolution of Virulence in the Kingdom FungiArturo Casadevall and Monica A. Garcia-SolachePopulation genetics and evolutionary approaches5) Malaria: Host Range, Diversity and SpeciationAnanias A. Escalante and Francisco J. Ayala6) From Population Genomics to Elucidated Traits in Plasmodium falciparumDaniel E. Neafsey, Stephen F. Schaffner, Pardis C. Sabeti, Sarah K. Volkman and Dyann F. Wirth7 Selective sweeps in human malaria parasitesXin-zhuan Su and John C. Wootton8) Evolution of Drug Resistance in FungiJessica A. Hill, Samantha J. Hoot, Theodore C. White and Leah E. Cowen9) Discovery of extant sexual cycles in human pathogenic fungi and their roles in the generation of diversity and virulenceRichard J. Bennett and Kirsten Nielsen10) Worldwide migrations, host shifts and re-emergence of Phytophthora infestans, the PlantDestroyerJean Beagle Ristaino11) Experimental and natural evolution of the Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexAlexander Idnurm and Jianping Xu12) Population genetics, diversity and spread of virulence in Toxoplasma gondiiBenjamin M. Rosenthal and James W. AjiokaForward and reverse genetic systems for defining virulence13) Genetic Crosses for Plasmodium falciparum: analysis of drug resistanceJohn C.Tan and Michael Ferdig14) Genetic mapping of virulence in rodent malariasRichard Carter and Richard Culleton15) Genetic Mapping of Acute Virulence in Toxoplasma gondiiL. David Sibley and John C. Boothroyd16) Virulence in African trypanosomes: genetic and molecular approachesAnnette MacLeod , Liam J. Morrison and Andy Tait17) The evolution of antigenic variation in African trypanosomesAndrew P. Jackson and J. David Barry18) Antigenic Variation, Adherence and Virulence in MalariaJoseph Smith and Kirk Deitsch19) Invasion Ligand Diversity and Pathogenesis in Blood-Stage MalariaManoj T. Duraisingh, Jeffrey D. Dvorin and Peter Rainer PreiserComparative "omics" approaches to defining virulence20) Evolution of Virulence in Oomycete Plant PathogensPaul R. J. Birch, Mary E. Coates and Jim L. Beynon21) Evolution and genomics of the pathogenic Candida species complexGeraldine Butler, Mike Lorenz and Neil A. R. Gow22) Evolution of Entamoeba histolytica virulenceUpinder Singh and Christopher D. Huston23) Sex and Virulence in Basidiomycete PathogensGuus Bakkeren, Emilia K. Kruzel and Christina M. Hull24) Emergence of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and global amphibian declinesMatthew C. Fisher, Jason E. Stajich and Rhys A. Farrer25) Impact of Horizontal Gene Transfer on Virulence of Fungal Pathogens of PlantsBarbara J. Howlett and Richard P. Oliver26) Evolution of plant pathogenicity in Fusarium speciesLi-Jun Ma, H. Corby Kistler and Martijn Rep27) Genetic, genomic, and molecular approaches to define virulence of Aspergillus fumigatusLaetitia Muszkieta,, William J. Steinbach and Jean-Paul Latge28) Cryptosporidium: comparative genomics and pathogenesisSatomi Kato and Jessica C. Kissinger