Omics: Approaches and applications related to diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitic diseases. Part I: Plasmodium spp.

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Over the last two decades, omics studies provide a revolutionary advance of datasets in the field of Medical
Parasitology for understanding parasite system biology, host-parasite interactions, and phylogenetic analyses;
i.e., genomics, transcriptomes, proteomics, metabolomics. Together with bioinformatics, genome-wide
associated studies (GWASs) enabled scientists to identify diagnostic biomarkers, promising drug targets,
and potential vaccine candidates for diagnosis, treatment, and protection against several neglected tropical
diseases. Omics approaches are either structural (genomics) or functional (post-genomics). To survive,
Plasmodium spp. are able to delete certain genes unessential for their survival and growth, enabling them
to evade host immune response. In addition, they undergo antigenic variations that lead to gene mutations
in enzymes controlling drug uptake. Previously unattainable goals, e.g., host immunoevasion, susceptibility
or resistance to infection, drug resistance, novel drugs as well as prevention and control were achieved by
omics studies powered by bioinformatics tools. This part of the present review aims to shed light on omics
application outcomes regarding Plasmodium spp.

Keywords

Parasitologists United Journal
Volume 15, Issue 2
August 2022
Pages 144-153

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