Genomic framework for malaria parasites: challenging but necessary

Summary: Genomic epidemiology has been a valuable tool for studying viral pathogens and malaria parasites, but the concept of measurably mutating pathogens does not easily apply to sexually recombining parasites. This article introduces the concept of measurably recombining malaria parasites and proposes the development of an inferential framework around recombination to guide practical research in malaria genomic epidemiology. The goal is to fully utilize the potential of genomic epidemiology for sexually recombining pathogens.