Traditionally, host haem has been recognized as a cytotoxic molecule that parasites need to eliminate or detoxify in order to survive. However, recent evidence indicates that some lineages of parasites have lost genes that encode enzymes involved specifically in endogenous haem biosynthesis. Such lineages thus need to acquire and utilize haem originating from their host animal, making it an indispensable molecule for their survival and reproduction. In multicellular parasites, host haem needs to be systemically distributed throughout their bodies to meet the haem demands in all cell and tissue types. Host haem also gets deposited in parasite eggs, enabling embryogenesis and reproduction. Clearly, a better understanding of haem biology in multicellular parasites should elucidate organismal adaptations to obligatory blood-feeding.

Department of Veterinary Biosciences Melbourne Veterinary School Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences The University of Melbourne Australia

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences České Budějovice Czech Republic

Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Brazil; Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular Brazil

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