Dr Peter Olson
Researcher
Division: LS Invertebrates Division
Summary
Our research is directed at understanding the patterns and processes underlying animal diversity and focuses on flatworms (phylum Platyhelminthes), a group of more than 50,000 free-living, symbiotic and parasitic species, including pathogens that have a major negative impact on our health and economy. Although much research is directed at their control and eradication, their extraordinary regenerative properties and complex life histories also make them useful models in evolutionary and developmental biology.
We work in a collections-based institute with a strong emphasis on research in the areas of Biodiversity, Systematics and Phylogenetics. In addition to these areas, we also address questions in the fields of Evo-Devo and Genomics using model organisms in the laboratory. We collaborate with many labs around the world and are always happy to hear from people with shared interests!
Qualifications
- PhD, University of Connecticut, United States, 1993 - 1998
- MSc, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States, 1991 - 1993
- BSc, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States, 1987 - 1991
Degrees
Grants
Toward phylogenetic resolution of parasitic flatworms through comparative analysis of complete genomes
Role: Principal investigatorOlson , Berriman M
Funding: SYNTAX
Total value £26,849 (to Museum £26,849)
Dates: 2010 - 2011
XI International Symposium on Flatworm Biology
Role: Principal investigatorOlson P
Funding: Royal Society
Total value £1,058 (to Museum £1,058)
Dates: 2009 - 2009
Developmental genes in the life cycle of a parasitic flatworm
Role: Principal investigatorOlson P
Funding: BBSRC
Total value £270,588.51 (to Museum £270,588.51)
Dates: 2009 - 2012
Publications
James K, Olson PD (2020) The tapeworm interactome: inferring confidence scored protein-protein interactions from the proteome of Hymenolepis microstoma. BMC Genomics, 21 (1) : doi: 10.1186/s12864-020-6710-1
Olson PD, Tracey A, Baillie A, James K, Doyle SR, Buddenborg SK, Rodgers FH, Holroyd N, Berriman M (2020) Complete representation of a tapeworm genome reveals chromosomes capped by centromeres, necessitating a dual role in segregation and protection. BMC Biology, 18 (1) : doi: 10.1186/s12915-020-00899-w
Bray RA, Waeschenbach A, Littlewood DTJ, Halvorsen O, Olson PD (2020) Molecular circumscription of new species of Gyrocotyle Diesing, 1850 (Cestoda) from deep-sea chimaeriform holocephalans in the North Atlantic. Systematic Parasitology, 97 (3) : 285 - 296. doi: 10.1007/s11230-020-09912-w
Macchiaroli N, Cucher M, Kamenetzky L, Yones C, Bugnon L, Berriman M, Olson PD, Rosenzvit MC (2019) Identification and expression profiling of microRNAs in Hymenolepis. International Journal for Parasitology, 49 (3-4) : 211 - 223. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.07.005
(2019) Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms. Nature Genetics, 51 (1) : 163 - 174. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0262-1
Olson PD, Zarowiecki M, James K, Baillie A, Bartl G, Burchell P, Chellappoo A, Jarero F, Tan LY, Holroyd N, Berriman M (2018) Genome-wide transcriptome profiling and spatial expression analyses identify signals and switches of development in tapeworms. EvoDevo, 9 (1) : doi: 10.1186/s13227-018-0110-5
Olson PD, Hughes J, Cotton JA (2016) Next Generation Systematics. Cambridge University Press :
Hoyal Cuthill JF, Sewell KB, Cannon LRG, Charleston MA, Lawler S, Littlewood DTJ, Olson PD, Blair D (2016) Australian spiny mountain crayfish and their temnocephalan ectosymbionts: an ancient association on the edge of coextinction?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1831) : 20160585 - 20160585. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0585
(2016) Malignant Transformation of Hymenolepis nana in a Human Host. New England Journal of Medicine, 374 (13) : 1293 - 1294. doi: 10.1056/nejmc1600490
Peniche G, Olson PD, Bennett DJ, Wong L, Sainsbury AW, Durrant C (2017) Protecting Free-Living Dormice: Molecular Identification of Cestode Parasites in Captive Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) Destined for Reintroduction. EcoHealth, 14 (S1) : 106 - 116. doi: 10.1007/s10393-016-1108-x
Koziol U, Jarero F, Olson PD, Brehm K (2016) Comparative analysis of Wnt expression identifies a highly conserved developmental transition in flatworms. BMC Biology, 14 (1) : doi: 10.1186/s12915-016-0233-x
Muehlenbachs A, Bhatnagar J, Agudelo CA, Hidron A, Eberhard ML, Mathison BA, Frace MA, Ito A, Metcalfe MG, Rollin DC, Visvesvara GS, Pham CD, Jones TL, Greer PW, Vélez Hoyos A, Olson PD, Diazgranados LR, Zaki SR (2015) Malignant Transformation ofHymenolepis nanain a Human Host. New England Journal of Medicine, 373 (19) : 1845 - 1852. doi: 10.1056/nejmoa1505892
Fraija-Fernández N, Olson PD, Crespo EA, Raga JA, Aznar FJ, Fernández M (2015) Independent host switching events by digenean parasites of cetaceans inferred from ribosomal DNA. International Journal for Parasitology, 45 (2-3) : 167 - 173. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.10.004
Kuchta R, Pearson R, Scholz T, Ditrich O, Olson PD (2014) Spathebothriidea: survey of species, scolex and egg morphology, and interrelationships of a non-segmented, relictual tapeworm group (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda)<sup>*</sup>. Folia Parasitologica, 61 (4) : 331 - 346. doi: 10.14411/fp.2014.040
Caira JN, Jensen K, Waeschenbach A, Olson PD, Littlewood DTJ (2014) Orders out of chaos – molecular phylogenetics reveals the complexity of shark and stingray tapeworm relationships. International Journal for Parasitology, 44 (1) : 55 - 73. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.10.004
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, Cunningham LJ, Hrčkova G, Olson PD (2013) RNA-mediated gene suppression and in vitro culture in Hymenolepis microstoma. International Journal for Parasitology, 43 (8) : 641 - 646. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2013.03.004
Tsai IJ, Zarowiecki M, Holroyd N, Garciarrubio A, Sanchez-Flores A, Brooks KL, Tracey A, Bobes RJ, Fragoso G, Sciutto E, Aslett M, Beasley H, Bennett HM, Cai J, Camicia F, Clark R, Cucher M, De Silva N, Day TA, Deplazes P, Estrada K, Fernández C, Holland PWH, Hou J, Hu S, Huckvale T, Hung SS, Kamenetzky L, Keane JA, Kiss F, Koziol U, Lambert O, Liu K, Luo X, Luo Y, Macchiaroli N, Nichol S, Paps J, Parkinson J, Pouchkina-Stantcheva N, Riddiford N, Rosenzvit M, Salinas G, Wasmuth JD, Zamanian M, Zheng Y, Cai X, Soberón X, Olson PD, Laclette JP, Brehm K, Berriman M (2013) The genomes of four tapeworm species reveal adaptations to parasitism. Nature, 496 (7443) : 57 - 63. doi: 10.1038/nature12031
GALAKTIONOV KV, BLASCO-COSTA I, OLSON PD (2012) Life cycles, molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the ‘pygmaeus’ microphallids (Digenea: Microphallidae): widespread parasites of marine and coastal birds in the Holarctic. Parasitology, 139 (10) : 1346 - 1360. doi: 10.1017/s0031182012000583
Brabec J, Scholz T, Králová-Hromadová I, Bazsalovicsová E, Olson PD (2012) Substitution saturation and nuclear paralogs of commonly employed phylogenetic markers in the Caryophyllidea, an unusual group of non-segmented tapeworms (Platyhelminthes). International Journal for Parasitology, 42 (3) : 259 - 267. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2012.01.005
OLSON PD, ZAROWIECKI M, KISS F, BREHM K (2012) Cestode genomics - progress and prospects for advancing basic and applied aspects of flatworm biology. Parasite Immunology, 34 (2-3) : 130 - 150. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01319.x
Pouchkina-Stantcheva NN, Cunningham LJ, Olson PD (2011) Spatial and temporal consistency of putative reference genes for real-time PCR in a model tapeworm. Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology, 180 (2) : 120 - 122. doi: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2011.08.004
Riddiford N, Olson PD (2011) Wnt gene loss in flatworms. Development Genes and Evolution, 221 (4) : 187 - 197. doi: 10.1007/s00427-011-0370-8
HRČKOVA G, MITERPÁKOVÁ M, O'CONNOR A, ŠNÁBEL V, OLSON PD (2011) Molecular and morphological circumscription ofMesocestoidestapeworms from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe. Parasitology, 138 (5) : 638 - 647. doi: 10.1017/s0031182011000047
Cunningham LJ, Olson PD (2010) Description of Hymenolepis microstoma (Nottingham strain): a classical tapeworm model for research in the genomic era. Parasites & Vectors, 3 (1) : doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-3-123
BLASCO-COSTA I, BALBUENA JA, RAGA JA, KOSTADINOVA A, OLSON PD (2010) Molecules and morphology reveal cryptic variation among digeneans infecting sympatric mullets in the Mediterranean. Parasitology, 137 (2) : 287 - 302. doi: 10.1017/s0031182009991375
Olson PD, Caira JN, Jensen K, Overstreet RM, Palm HW, Beveridge I (2010) Evolution of the trypanorhynch tapeworms: Parasite phylogeny supports independent lineages of sharks and rays. International Journal for Parasitology, 40 (2) : 223 - 242. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2009.07.012
Blasco-Costa I, Balbuena JA, Kostadinova A, Olson PD (2009) Interrelationships of the Haploporinae (Digenea: Haploporidae): A molecular test of the taxonomic framework based on morphology. Parasitology International, 58 (3) : 263 - 269. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2009.03.006
Palm HW, Waeschenbach A, Olson PD, Littlewood DTJ (2009) Molecular phylogeny and evolution of the Trypanorhyncha Diesing, 1863 (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 52 (2) : 351 - 367. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.01.019
Olson PD, Poddubnaya LG, Littlewood DTJ, Scholz T (2008) On the Position of Archigetes and Its Bearing on the Early Evolution of the Tapeworms. Journal of Parasitology, 94 (4) : 898 - 904. doi: 10.1645/ge-1456.1
Olson PD (2008) Hox genes and the parasitic flatworms: New opportunities, challenges and lessons from the free-living. Parasitology International, 57 (1) : 8 - 17. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2007.09.007
OLSON PD (2008) Invited Review: Hox genes and the parasitic flatworms: new opportunities, challenges and lessons from the free-living. Parasitology International, 57 : 8 - 17.
MARQUES JF, SANTOS MJ, GIBSON DI, CABRAL HN, OLSON PD (2007) Cryptic species of Didymobothrium rudolphii (Cestoda: Spathebothriidea) from the sand sole, Solea lascaris, off the Portuguese coast, with an analysis of their molecules, morphology, ultrastructure and phylogeny. Parasitology, 134 (7) : 1057 - 1072. doi: 10.1017/s0031182007002491
Poddubnaya L, Gibson D, Olson P (2007) Ultrastructure of the ovary, ovicapt and oviduct of the spathebothriidean tapeworm Didymobothrium rudolphii (Monticelli, 1890). Acta Parasitologica, 52 (2) : doi: 10.2478/s11686-007-0014-3
Huys R, Llewellyn-Hughes J, Conroy-Dalton S, Olson PD, Spinks JN, Johnston DA (2007) Extraordinary host switching in siphonostomatoid copepods and the demise of the Monstrilloida: Integrating molecular data, ontogeny and antennulary morphology. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 43 (2) : 368 - 378. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2007.02.004
Aznar FJ, Agustí C, Littlewood DTJ, Raga JA, Olson PD (2007) Insight into the role of cetaceans in the life cycle of the tetraphyllideans (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). International Journal for Parasitology, 37 (2) : 243 - 255. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.10.010
Otranto D, Rehbein S, Weigl S, Cantacessi C, Parisi A, Lia RP, Olson PD (2007) Morphological and molecular differentiation between Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Rudolphi, 1819) and Dicrocoelium chinensis (Sudarikov and Ryjikov, 1951) Tang and Tang, 1978 (Platyhelminthes: Digenea). Acta Tropica, 104 (2-3) : 91 - 98. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2007.07.008
Poddubnaya L, Gibson D, Świderski Z, Olson P (2006) Vitellocyte ultrastructure in the cestode Didymobothrium rudolphii (Monticelli, 1890): possible evidence for the recognition of divergent taxa within the Spathebothriidea. Acta Parasitologica, 51 (4) : doi: 10.2478/s11686-006-0039-z
HUYS R, LLEWELLYN-HUGHES J, OLSON PD, NAGASAWA K (null) Small subunit rDNA and Bayesian inference reveal Pectenophilus ornatus (Copepoda incertae sedis) as highly transformed Mytilicolidae, and support assignment of Chondracanthidae and Xarifiidae to Lichomolgoidea (Cyclopoida). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 87 (3) : 403 - 425. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2005.00579.x
Literak I, Tenora F, Letkova V, Goldova M, Torres J, OLSON PD (2006) Mesocestoides litteratus (Batsch, 1786) (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidae: Mesocestoididae) from the red fox: morphological and 18S rDNA characterization of European isolates. Helminthologia, 43 : 191 - 195.
Marques JF, Santos MJ, OLSON PD, Cabral HN, GIBSON DI (2006) Morphology and genetics of a key species in relation to cestode evolution, Didymobothrium rudolphii (Monticelli, 1890) Nybelin, 1922. International Congress of Parasitology XI,
Plaisance L, Littlewood DTJ, Olson PD, Morand S (2005) Molecular phylogeny of gill monogeneans (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea, Dactylogyridae) and colonization of Indo-West Pacific butterflyfish hosts (Perciformes, Chaetodontidae). Zoologica Scripta, 34 (4) : 425 - 436. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-6409.2005.00191.x
GARIN YJF, OLSON PD, LORENZO F, DEROUIN F, MOULIGNIER A, GALÁN-PUCHADES M-T, ROBERT G, HÉRAN F, POLIVKA M, CONN DB (2005) HUMAN BRAIN ABSCESS DUE TO A TETRA-ACETABULATE PLEROCERCOID METACESTODE (CYCLOPHYLLIDEA). The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 72 (5) : 513 - 517. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2005.72.513
AGUSTÍ C, AZNAR FJ, OLSON PD, LITTLEWOOD DTJ, KOSTADINOVA A, RAGA JA (2005) Morphological and molecular characterization of tetraphyllidean merocercoids (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Western Mediterranean. Parasitology, 130 (4) : 461 - 474. doi: 10.1017/s0031182004006754
Agusti C, Aznar FJ, OLSON PD, LITTLEWOOD DTJ, Kostadinova A, Raga JA (2005) Morphological and molecular characterization of tetraphylllidean merocercoids of striped dolphins from the western Mediterranean.. Parasitology, 130 : 159 - 167.
Olson PD, Tkach VV (2005) Advances and Trends in the Molecular Systematics of the Parasitic Platyhelminthes. null, 165 - 243. doi: 10.1016/s0065-308x(05)60003-6
Bray RA, Olson PD (2004) The plerocercus of Ditrachybothridium macrocephalum Rees, 1959 from two deep-sea elasmobranchs, with a molecular analysis of its position within the order Diphyllidea and a checklist of the hosts of larval diphyllideans. Systematic Parasitology, 59 (3) : 159 - 167. doi: 10.1023/b:sypa.0000048101.99985.dc
Literák I, Olson PD, Georgiev BB, Špakulová M (2004) First record of metacestodes of Mesocestoides sp. in the common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) in Europe, with an 18S rDNA characterisation of the isolate. Folia Parasitologica, 51 (1) : 45 - 49. doi: 10.14411/fp.2004.006
Tkach VV, Littlewood DTJ, Olson PD, Kinsella JM, Swiderski Z (2003) Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the Microphalloidea Ward, 1901 (Trematoda: Digenea). Systematic Parasitology, 56 (1) : 1 - 15. doi: 10.1023/a:1025546001611
Olson PD, Cribb TH, Tkach VV, Bray RA, Littlewood DTJ (2003) Phylogeny and classification of the Digenea (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda)11Nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper are available in the GenBank™, EMBL and DDBJ databases under the accession numbers AY222082–AY222285.. International Journal for Parasitology, 33 (7) : 733 - 755. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7519(03)00049-3
Olson PD, Yoder K, Fajardo L‐G LF, Marty AM, van de Pas S, Olivier C, Relman DA (2003) Lethal Invasive Cestodiasis in Immunosuppressed Patients. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 187 (12) : 1962 - 1966. doi: 10.1086/375357
LOCKYER AE, OLSON PD, ØSTERGAARD P, ROLLINSON D, JOHNSTON DA, ATTWOOD SW, SOUTHGATE VR, HORAK P, SNYDER SD, LE TH, AGATSUMA T, MCMANUS DP, CARMICHAEL AC, NAEM S, LITTLEWOOD DTJ (2003) The phylogeny of the Schistosomatidae based on three genes with emphasis on the interrelationships of Schistosoma Weinland, 1858. Parasitology, 126 (3) : 203 - 224. doi: 10.1017/s0031182002002792
LOCKYER AE, OLSON PD, LITTLEWOOD DTJ (null) Utility of complete large and small subunit rRNA genes in resolving the phylogeny of the Neodermata (Platyhelminthes): implications and a review of the cercomer theory. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 78 (2) : 155 - 171. doi: 10.1046/j.1095-8312.2003.00141.x
CRIBB T, BRAY R, OLSON P, TIMOTHY D, LITTLEWOOD J (2003) Life Cycle Evolution in the Digenea: a New Perspective from Phylogeny. null, 197 - 254. doi: 10.1016/s0065-308x(03)54004-0
Reyda FB, OLSON PD (2003) Cestodes of cestodes of Peruvian freshwater stingrays. Journal of Parasitology, 89 : 1018 - 1024.
Olson PD, Littlewood DTJ, Griffiths D, Kennedy CR, Arme C.* (2002) Evidence for the co-existence of separate strains or species of <I>Ligula</I> in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland. Journal of Helminthology, 76 (2) : 171 - 174. doi: 10.1079/joh2001101
Olson P (2002) Phylogenetics of the Monogenea â evidence from a medley of molecules. International Journal for Parasitology, 32 (3) : 233 - 244. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7519(01)00328-9
Bray RA, Olson PD, Cribb TH, Littlewood DTJ (2002) Frangible fluke phylogenies: delineating digenean descent. The British Society for Parasitology Spring Meeting,
Brickle P, Olson PD, Littlewood DTJ, Bishop A, Arkhipkin AI (2001) Parasites of <i>Loligo gahi</i> from waters off the Falkland Islands, with a phylogenetically based identification of their cestode larvae. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 79 (12) : 2289 - 2296. doi: 10.1139/cjz-79-12-2289
Olson PD, Littlewood DTJ, Bray RA, Mariaux J (2001) Interrelationships and Evolution of the Tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 19 (3) : 443 - 467. doi: 10.1006/mpev.2001.0930
Littlewood DTJ, Cribb TH, Olson PD, Bray RA (2001) Platyhelminth phylogenetics - a key to understanding parasitism?. BELGIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, 131 : 35 - 46.
Littlewood DTJ, Olson PD, Telford MJ, Herniou EA, Riutort M (2001) Elongation Factor 1-Alpha Sequences Alone Do Not Assist in Resolving the Position of the Acoela Within the Metazoa. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 18 (3) : 437 - 442. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a003821
Olson PD, Caira JN (2001) Two new species of Litobothrium Dailey, 1969 (Cestoda: Litobothriidea) from thresher sharks in the Gulf of California, Mexico, with redescriptions of two species in the genus. Systematic Parasitology, 48 (3) : 159 - 177. doi: 10.1023/a:1006422419580
Littlewood DTJ, Olson PD (2001) Small subunit rDNA and the Platyhelminthes: Signal, noise, conflict and compromise, In: Interrelationship of the Platyhelminthes, Taylor & Francis : 262 - 278.
Scholz T, Shimazu T, Olson PD, Nagasawa K (2001) Caryophyllidean tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) from freshwater fishes in Japan. Folia Parasitologica, 48 (4) : 275 - 288. doi: 10.14411/fp.2001.046
Mariaux J, Olson PD (null) Cestode systematics in molecular era, In: Interrelationships of the Platyhelminthes, Littlewood DTJ, Bray RA (Eds). Taylor & Francis : 127 - 134.
Olson PD (2000) New Insights into Platyhelminth Systematics and Evolution. Parasitology Today, 16 (1) : 3 - 5. doi: 10.1016/s0169-4758(99)01555-0
Olson PD, Caira JN (1999) Evolution of the Major Lineages of Tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoidea) Inferred from 18S Ribosomal DNA and Elongation Factor-1a. The Journal of Parasitology, 85 (6) : 1134 - 1134. doi: 10.2307/3285679
Olson PD, Ruhnke TR, Sanney J, Hudson T (1999) Evidence for host-specific clades of tetraphyllidean tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) revealed by analysis of 18S ssrDNA. International Journal for Parasitology, 29 (9) : 1465 - 1476. doi: 10.1016/s0020-7519(99)00106-x
Olson PD, Nickol BB (1996) Comparison of Leptorhynchoides thecatus (Acanthocephala) recruitment in green sunfish and largemouth bass populations. Journal of Parasitology, 82 : 702 - 706.
Santamaria-Fries M, Fajardo L-G LF, Sogin ML, Olson PD, Relman DA (1996) Lethal infection by a previously unrecognized metazoan parasite. The Lancet, 347 : 1797 - 1801.
Olson PD, Nickol BB (1995) Effects of low temperature on the development of Leptorhynchoides thecatus (Acanthocephala) in Lepomis cyanellus (Centrarchidae). Journal of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 62 : 44 - 47.
Courses taught
Short course: Integrating molecules with taxonomy and systematics
, London
5/2018.
Short course: Molecular diagnostics for species identification and evolutionary analysis
Natural History Museum, London
2/2018.