Like other members of the medically important phylum Apicomplexa, Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that secretes several classes of proteins involved in the active invasion of target host cells. Proteins in apical secretory organelles known as micronemes have been strongly implicated in parasite attachment to host cells. TgMIC2 is a microneme protein with multiple adhesive domains that bind target cells and is mobilized onto the parasite surface during parasite attachment. Here, we describe a novel parasite protein, TgM2AP, which is physically associated with TgMIC2. TgM2AP complexes with TgMIC2 within 15 min of synthesis and remains associated with TgMIC2 in the micronemes, on the parasite surface during invasion and in the culture medium after release from the parasite plasma membrane. TgM2AP is proteolytically processed initially when its propeptide is removed during transit through the golgi and later while it occupies the parasite surface after discharge from the micronemes. We show that TgM2AP is a member of a protein family expressed by coccidian parasites including Neospora caninum and Eimeria tenella. This phylogenic conservation and association with a key adhesive protein suggest that TgM2AP is a fundamental component of the T. gondii invasion machinery.

The African trypanosome, Trypanosoma brucei, causes sleeping sickness in humans in sub-Saharan Africa. Here we report the sequence and analysis of the 1.1 Mb chromosome I, which encodes approximately 400 predicted genes organised into directional clusters, of which more than 100 are located in the largest cluster of 250 kb. A 160-kb region consists primarily of three gene families of unknown function, one of which contains a hotspot for retroelement insertion. We also identify five novel gene families. Indeed, almost 20% of predicted genes are members of families. In some cases, tandemly arrayed genes are 99-100% identical, suggesting an active process of amplification and gene conversion. One end of the chromosome consists of a putative bloodstream-form variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) gene expression site that appears truncated and degenerate. The other chromosome end carries VSG and expression site-associated genes and pseudogenes over 50 kb of subtelomeric sequence where, unusually, the telomere-proximal VSG gene is oriented away from the telomere. Our analysis includes the cataloguing of minor genetic variations between the chromosome I homologues and an estimate of crossing-over frequency during genetic exchange. Genetic polymorphisms are exceptionally rare in sequences located within and around the strand-switches between several gene clusters.

BackgroundObesity, excess fat tissue in the body, can underlie a variety of medical complaints including heart disease, stroke and cancer. The pig is an excellent model organism for the study of various human disorders, including obesity, as well as being the foremost agricultural species. In order to identify genetic variants associated with fatness, we used a selective genomic approach sampling DNA from animals at the extreme ends of the fat and lean spectrum using estimated breeding values derived from a total population size of over 70,000 animals. DNA from 3 breeds (Sire Line Large White, Duroc and a white Pietrain composite line (Titan)) was used to interrogate the Illumina Porcine SNP60 Genotyping Beadchip in order to identify significant associations in terms of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs).ResultsBy sampling animals at each end of the fat/lean EBV (estimate breeding value) spectrum the whole population could be assessed using less than 300 animals, without losing statistical power. Indeed, several significant SNPs (at the 5% genome wide significance level) were discovered, 4 of these linked to genes with ontologies that had previously been correlated with fatness (NTS, FABP6, SST and NR3C2). Quantitative analysis of the data identified putative CNV regions containing genes whose ontology suggested fatness related functions (MCHR1, PPARα, SLC5A1 and SLC5A4).ConclusionsSelective genotyping of EBVs at either end of the phenotypic spectrum proved to be a cost effective means of identifying SNPs and CNVs associated with fatness and with estimated major effects in a large population of animals.

African trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa that infect a wide range of mammals, including humans. These parasites remain extracellular in the mammalian bloodstream, where antigenic variation allows them to survive the immune response. The Trypanosoma brucei nuclear genome sequence has been published recently. However, the significant chromosome size polymorphism observed among strains and subspecies of T. brucei, where total DNA content may vary up to 30%, necessitates a comparative study to determine the underlying basis and significance of such variation between parasites. In addition, the sequenced strain (Tb927) presents one of the smallest genomes analyzed among T. brucei isolates; therefore, establishing polymorphic regions will provide essential complementary information to the sequencing project. We have developed a Tb927 high-resolution DNA microarray to study DNA content variation along chromosome I, one of the most size-variable chromosomes, in different strains and subspecies of T. brucei. Results show considerable copy number polymorphism, especially at subtelomeres, but are insufficient to explain the observed size difference. Additional sequencing reveals that >50% of a larger chromosome I consists of arrays of variant surface glycoprotein genes (VSGs), involved in avoidance of acquired immunity. In total, the subtelomeres appear to be three times larger than the diploid core. These results reveal that trypanosomes can utilize subtelomeres for amplification and divergence of gene families to such a remarkable extent that they may constitute most of a chromosome, and that the VSG repertoire may be even larger than reported to date. Further experimentation is required to determine if these results are applicable to all size-variable chromosomes.

The parasitic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii and its relatives (e.g. Plasmodium spp., which cause malaria) constitute a major global health problem. In recent years, the elucidation of biological processes in these parasites has accelerated with the application of genetic and genomic methodologies. Genetic analyses in T. gondii have revealed a remarkably stable 87 Mb (megabase) nuclear genome consisting of 11 chromosomes showing little variation across strains. Population studies demonstrate that the small amount of variation defines three clonal lineages where phenotypes such as virulence are associated with a single lineage. The random generation of cDNA (complementary DNA) sequences derived from different strains and developmental stages has highlighted the genetic differences underlying observed phenotypic variation. T. gondii also contains an extrachromosomal 35 kb (kilobase) circular DNA within an organelle with plastid-like properties. The limited coding capacity of the 35 kb organellar genome suggests that proteins responsible for organelle function(s) must be encoded by the nucleus. Scrutiny of T. gondii nuclear cDNA sequences has uncovered a number of proteins thought to carry out essential roles in the organelle (e.g. fatty acid biosynthesis). The synergism between these seemingly unrelated genomic studies has provided a greater understanding of parasite pathogenesis and has identified several new targets for chemotherapy.