Some oomycetes feed off plants by extending hyphae between their cells

At first glance, diatoms, malaria parasites, and fungus-like plant pathogens called oomycetes look wildly different. But these organisms all have something in common: they belong to a group called the Chromalveolata that contains genes from algae. This diversity of lifestyles within a single group presents an opportunity to learn how some of them became obligate biotrophs, which require living hosts… (more)

PLoS Biology, 2011