Evolutionary Parasitology: The Integrated Study of Infections, Immunology, Ecology, and Genetics

Parasites and infectious diseases are powerful forces shaping the natural world, affecting hosts and ecosystems. Hosts have evolved complex defenses, while parasites have found ways to manipulate and exploit them. Evolutionary parasitology is a new synthesis for studying host-parasite interactions, combining concepts from evolution, ecology, parasitology, and immunology. This updated edition provides a state-of-the-art overview of the field, including new material on microbiota, evolutionary genomics,phylodynamics, within-host evolution, epidemiology, disease spaces, and emergent diseases. It is suitable for advanced undergraduates, graduate level students, and interdisciplinary researchers from various fields.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 576 pages
Publication date: 15 July 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Parasites and infectious diseases are ubiquitous, exerting significant influence on the natural world. These microscopic organisms have a profound impact on the lives of their hosts, affecting various aspects, including the structure of entire ecosystems. In response, hosts have developed sophisticated defense mechanisms, with immune systems being among the most advanced processes known in nature. Parasites, however, have evolved innovative strategies to manipulate and exploit their hosts. This ongoing co-evolutionary struggle has had far-reaching consequences for humanity.

Since the beginning of life, hosts and parasites have engaged in a relentless battle, shaping the course of evolution. Concepts borrowed from fields such as evolution, ecology, parasitology, and immunology have converged to form a new synthesis for studying host-parasite interactions.

Evolutionary parasitology, a branch of scientific inquiry, builds upon established fields but also incorporates successful interdisciplinary areas like evolutionary epidemiology and ecological immunology. This innovative field has seen rapid progress, necessitating an update to provide a comprehensive overview.

The revised second edition of this text offers a state-of-the-art perspective, covering molecular bases, adaptive strategies, and their ecological and evolutionary implications. It includes extensive coverage of new topics such as microbiota, evolutionary genomics,phylodynamics, within-host evolution, epidemiology, disease spaces, and emerging diseases.

Designed for advanced undergraduates, graduate-level students, and interdisciplinary researchers from diverse fields such as immunology, genetics, sexual selection, population ecology, behavioral ecology, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology, this book provides a valuable resource for understanding the complex dynamics between hosts and parasites.

Weight: 1212g
Dimension: 190 x 247 x 34 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198832157
Edition number: 2 Revised edition