Analysis of Scolex Morphology and Attachment Site Configuration at the Host/Parasite Interface

弓形虫科由寄生的绦虫组成。这个家族的成员会感染鲨鱼和其他扁形目鱼类的肠道。Janine Kaa博士将研究几个属的嗜酸杆菌物种之间的进化关系，并建立它们在鱼类肠道螺旋瓣中的首选附着位置。利用电子显微镜、附着钩的氨基酸分析和成虫形态的数据，将重建绦虫之间的进化关系。收集到的关于连接钩的形态和蛋白质化学的数据将有助于我们理解寄生虫的系统学和进化，以及影响宿主和寄生虫的可能的共同进化机制。有充分记录的绦虫进化重建可以与宿主鱼类的祖先-后代关系进行比较。宿主和寄生虫之间的共同进化是一种对生物学的许多分支都有影响的现象。

The Oncobothriidae comprises a family of parasitic cestode tapeworms. Members of this family infect the intestines of sharks and other elasmobranch fishes. Dr. Janine Caira will be investigating the evolutionary relationships among the species of several genera of oncobothriids, and establishing their preferred attachment sites within the spiral valves of the fish intestines. Evolutionary relationships among the tapeworms will be reconstructed using data from electron microscopy, amino acid analysis of attachment hooks, and adult tapeworm morphology. The data gathered on the morphology and protein chemistry of the attachment hooks will advance our understanding of the systematics and evolution of the parasites, and of possible coevolutionary mechanisms that affect hosts and parasites. A well-documented evolutionary reconstructions of the tapeworms can be compared to the ancestor-descendant relationships of the host fishes. Coevolution among hosts and parasites is a phenomenon with implications for many branches of biology.