dual RNA-seq of P. ovale and P. falciparum infections

P. falciparum is the most prevalent and most well studied malaria parasite, but other less prevalent species such as P. ovale are severely under studied. Because symptomatic malaria is caused by blood stage replication of the parasites, understanding the gene expression of both the host and the parasites during this phase of the life cycle is crucial to developing new treatments and vaccines. Little is known about gene expression in P. ovale parasites or their hosts during infection. Comparing gene expression during P. ovale infection with the better studied P. falciparum infections can highlight species-specific differences of these medically important parasites.