Comparative genomic analysis of three Leishmania species that cause diverse human disease

Nat Genet. 2007 Jul;39(7):839-47. doi: 10.1038/ng2053. Epub 2007 Jun 17.

Abstract

Leishmania parasites cause a broad spectrum of clinical disease. Here we report the sequencing of the genomes of two species of Leishmania: Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis. The comparison of these sequences with the published genome of Leishmania major reveals marked conservation of synteny and identifies only approximately 200 genes with a differential distribution between the three species. L. braziliensis, contrary to Leishmania species examined so far, possesses components of a putative RNA-mediated interference pathway, telomere-associated transposable elements and spliced leader-associated SLACS retrotransposons. We show that pseudogene formation and gene loss are the principal forces shaping the different genomes. Genes that are differentially distributed between the species encode proteins implicated in host-pathogen interactions and parasite survival in the macrophage.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Genome*
  • Genomics*
  • Humans
  • Leishmania / genetics*
  • Leishmania braziliensis / genetics
  • Leishmania infantum / genetics
  • Leishmania major / genetics
  • Leishmaniasis / parasitology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / parasitology
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / parasitology
  • Molecular Sequence Data

Associated data

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