Plasmodium telomeres: a pathogen's perspective

New data on the organization of plasmodial telomeres has recently become av ailable. Telomeres form clusters of four to seven heterologous chromosome e nds at the nuclear periphery in asexual and sexual parasite stages. This su bnuclear compartment promotes gene conversion between members of subtelomer ic virulence factor genes in heterologous chromosomes resulting in diversit y of antigenic and adhesive phenotypes. This has important implications for parasite survival.