Summary
Parasitism is a widespread lifestyle across the tree of life, and the parasitic organisms can greatly affect the host species on or in which they live. This research will elucidate an understudied group of single-celled parasites called gregarines. Gregarines are related to parasites which cause severe human and animal diseases such as malaria and coccidiosis. Unlike their relatives, gregarines do not infect vertebrate hosts. Instead, they parasitize various groups of invertebrates including earthworms, shrimp, and insects. Only about 1,600 species of gregarines are known; however, given their
