Vaidas Palinauskas

This study shows that parasite epigenetic memory and blood barriers influence host transcriptional responses during host shifts, revealing distinct immune and metabolic responses to homologous vs. heterologous infections.

This study investigates how the avian malaria parasite P. homocircumflexum adjusts its gene expression across different bird hosts, finding evidence for epigenetic inheritance and transcriptional plasticity.

The paper identifies germline-restricted chromosomes (GRCs) in 6,700 passerine species, showing rapid evolution and functional gene retention despite programmed DNA elimination.