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Primers on parasites and vectors

Editors of Parasites & Vectors take the opportunity to encourage researchers at all levels of their scientific careers (from PhD student to Professor) to write a Primer article on their favourite parasite or vector. These articles form part of a collection entitled “Primers on Parasites and Vectors” that aims to fill a gap by providing short (max 2500 words), authoritative and accessible accounts that explore the basic/applied biology of selected parasites, intermediate hosts, vectors and vector-borne pathogens.

The Primers integrate fundamental aspects of parasite or vector biology with recent, cutting-edge research findings and a discussion of future research needs. Each Primer also includes a downloadable/printable poster. The eclectic and broad commentary, when combined with the poster, enables the Primers to ‘stand out’ against more conventional mini-review articles.  For an example Primer, go to: https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-3305-4-203

The Primers aim to educate and inspire individuals, both researchers and students alike, and engage scientists with the fascinating biology of parasites and vectors more widely than would be otherwise achieved. We very much hope that you like the concept of Primers on Parasites and Vectors and will consider writing an article to contribute to this valuable collection. 

Primers are commissioned by the Editor-in-Chief in discussion with the Guest Editor, Professor Anthony J Walker. Preliminary enquiries by authors can be addressed to the Guest Editor on T.Walker@kingston.ac.uk.

Submit here to Parasites & Vectors.

Click here for the journal's submission guidelines and here for more information on Primers.


Guest Editor: Professor Anthony Walker

Collection published: 21 October 2011

View all collections published in Parasites & Vectors




  1. Taenia solium taeniasis/cysticercosis (TSTC) is a foodborne, zoonotic neglected tropical disease affecting predominately low- and middle-income countries. Humans are definitive hosts for T. solium, whereas pigs a...

    Authors: Md. Shahadat Hossain, Shafqat Shabir, Philip Toye, Lian F. Thomas and Franco H. Falcone
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2023 16:380
  2. Avian malaria is a vector-borne disease that is caused by Plasmodium parasites. These parasites are transmitted via mosquito bites and can cause sickness or death in a wide variety of birds, including many threat...

    Authors: Andrea Miranda Paez, Kayleigh Chalkowski, Sarah Zohdy and Janna R. Willoughby
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2022 15:208
  3. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a complex life cycle and a cosmopolitan host range. The asexual part of its life cycle can be perpetually sustained in a variety of intermediate hosts through a comb...

    Authors: Wen Han Tong, Chris Pavey, Ryan O’Handley and Ajai Vyas
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2021 14:77
  4. African trypanosomes cause human African trypanosomiasis and animal African trypanosomiasis. They are transmitted by tsetse flies in sub-Saharan Africa. Although most famous for their mechanisms of immune evas...

    Authors: Mathieu Cayla, Federico Rojas, Eleanor Silvester, Frank Venter and Keith R. Matthews
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2019 12:190
  5. Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are arthropod ectoparasites dependent on a bloodmeal from a vertebrate host at each developmental stage for completion of their life cycle. This tick feeding cycle impacts animal health ...

    Authors: Katherine M. Kocan, José de la Fuente and Lisa A. Coburn
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2015 8:592
  6. The need to discover new treatments for human schistosomiasis has been an important driver for molecular research on schistosomes, a major breakthrough being the publication of the Schistosoma mansoni and Schisto...

    Authors: Anthony John Walker
    Citation: Parasites & Vectors 2011 4:203