The contribution of extrachromosomal DNA to genome plasticity in malaria parasites

What is it about?

Malaria parasites display extensive genome plasticity that enables them to rapidly generate antigenic diversity for immune evasion and contributes to their ability to develop drug resistance. Recent work has demonstrated that the mechanisms underlying this plasticity include the production extrachromosomal DNA, thus expanding the parasite's genome content beyond its 14 chromosomes.

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