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

瘤头绦虫科包括寄生绦虫科 绦虫 这个家族的成员会感染 鲨鱼和其他板鳃类鱼类。 Janine Caira博士将在 调查物种之间的进化关系 几个属的瘤节虫，并建立他们的首选 在鱼肠的螺旋瓣内的附着点。 绦虫之间的进化关系 使用电子显微镜数据重建，氨基酸 附着钩和成虫绦虫形态分析。 收集到的关于形态学和蛋白质化学的数据 连接钩将促进我们对 寄生虫的系统学和进化， 影响宿主和寄生虫的共同进化机制。 一 证据确凿的绦虫进化重建 可以与祖先和后代的关系相比较， 宿主鱼类 宿主和寄生虫之间的共同进化是一种 这一现象对生物学的许多分支都有影响。

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.