Vitrella brassicaformis is a photosynthetic algae closely related to the apicomplexa parasites. Aim of the project is to understand the evolution of parasitism in the apicomplexa.

Apicomplexans are a diverse group of obligate parasites of humans and animals, with great impact on human health, food and economics. To understand how apicomplexans originated and diversified, we sequenced and analyzed the nuclear genome of two photosynthetic algae related to them: Chromera velia and Vitrella brassicaformis.

顶复门原虫（Apicomplexans）是一类具有高度多样性的专性寄生类群，可寄生于人类与多种动物，对人类健康、粮食生产及经济发展均具有重大影响。为阐明顶复门原虫的起源与演化分化历程，我们对两种与其亲缘关系密切的光合藻类的核基因组进行了测序与分析：Chromera velia与Vitrella brassicaformis。