How one resourceful team of scientists coordinated their attack on a chicken bug

Nobody here but us chickens: The broiler industry is by its very nature a hothouse for evolution of drug-resistant strains of parasites. The recent publication of genome sequences for all seven species of eimeria is expected to re-invigorate drug and vaccine development efforts. - Filepic

Fundamental science is often overlooked, especially when the subject of your research is a parasite that makes chickens sick. Killer diseases like malaria and tuberculosis attract most of the funding, as they are serious threats and should be prioritised. But it is still important to make progress in other areas. Fundamental research is, after all, the lifeblood of the applied sciences – it’s what generates new leads for innovation to keep moving forward.

In 2002, three scientists got together and made it their mission to sequence the genome of Eimeria tenella – a type of Apicomplexan parasite which infects chickens, causing avian coccidiosis, a significant veterinary disease. They ended up with much more, publishing the genomes of seven species of eimeria.