Biochemical Adaptation in Parasites

Presents knowledge of parasite metabolism and how it reflects adaption to particular environments.

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.