Exploring a parasitic tunnel boring machine

(Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute) The whipworm's unusual strategy of burrowing through the intestine of its human host is explored in an in-depth study of the parasite's genome. Researchers' deeper understanding of the worm's genetics has exposed weaknesses, pointing to potential treatments for the hundreds of millions of people infected in developing countries. This genome could also help researchers harness potentially beneficial features of the worm's unique biology.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news