Genomic variation in Plasmodium relictum (lineage SGS1) and its implications for avian malaria infection outcomes: insights from experimental infections and genome-wide analysis

These results highlight extensive genetic variation within the SGS1 population that is transferred into individual infections, thus adding to the complexity of the infection dynamics seen in these host-parasite interactions. Simultaneously, the results open up the possibility of understanding how genetic variation within the parasite populations is linked to the commonly observed differences in infection outcomes, both in experimental settings and in the wild.