Speculations on the origin and evolution of the genus Leishmania

Momen, Hooman; Cupolillo, Elisa

doi:10.1590/s0074-02762000000400023

Cited by 58 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…Both species also clustered together at a basal position for all other Euleishmania by molecular phylogeny using DNA polymerase alpha and RNA polymerase II gene-encoding sequences [15]. Finally, it is noteworthy that these sequence alignments strongly support the inclusion of Sauroleishmania (of which the taxonomic position remains controversial; reviewed in [1]) within Leishmania and perhaps in an intermediary position between both subgenera.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

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Compared genomics of the strand switch region of Leishmania chromosome 1 reveal a novel genus-specific gene and conserved structural features and sequence motifs

et al. 2007

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Background: Trypanosomatids exhibit a unique gene organization into large directional gene clusters (DGCs) in opposite directions. The transcription "strand switch region" (SSR) separating the two large DGCs that constitute chromosome 1 of Leishmania major has been the subject of several studies and speculations. Thus, it has been suspected of being the single replication origin of the chromosome, the transcription initiation site for both DGCs or even a centromere. Here, we have used an inter-species compared genomics approach on this locus in order to try to identify conserved features or motifs indicative of a putative function.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…The differentiation between both appears very ancient, as it is estimated to be contemporary to the formation of the Gondwana, i.e. around 60 million years [1]. However, comparative genomics showed the general structure of the genome to be remarkably stable within this genus.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Compared genomics of the strand switch region of Leishmania chromosome 1 reveal a novel genus-specific gene and conserved structural features and sequence motifs

et al. 2007

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“…It has been proposed that the genus Leishmania first appeared either in the Old World (24,25) or the New World (26)(27)(28). The New World origin is supported by the high genetic diversity of neotropical Leishmania species and by combined amino acid, DNA, and RNA polymerase-based trees, which root in America (data not shown).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Evolutionary and geographical history of the Leishmania donovani complex with a revision of current taxonomy

Lukeš

Maurício

Schönian

et al. 2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

385

309

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Leishmaniasis is a geographically widespread severe disease, with an increasing incidence of two million cases per year and 350 million people from 88 countries at risk. The causative agents are species of Leishmania, a protozoan flagellate. Visceral leishmaniasis, the most severe form of the disease, lethal if untreated, is caused by species of the Leishmania donovani complex. These species are morphologically indistinguishable but have been identified by molecular methods, predominantly multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. We have conducted a multifactorial genetic analysis that includes DNA sequences of protein-coding genes as well as noncoding segments, microsatellites, restriction-fragment length polymorphisms, and randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs, for a total of Ϸ18,000 characters for each of 25 geographically representative strains. Genotype is strongly correlated with geographical (continental) origin, but not with current taxonomy or clinical outcome. We propose a new taxonomy, in which Leishmania infantum and L. donovani are the only recognized species of the L. donovani complex, and we present an evolutionary hypothesis for the origin and dispersal of the species. The genus Leishmania may have originated in South America, but diversified after migration into Asia. L. donovani and L. infantum diverged Ϸ1 Mya, with further divergence of infraspecific genetic groups between 0.4 and 0.8 Mya. The prevailing mode of reproduction is clonal, but there is evidence of genetic exchange between strains, particularly in Africa.Leishmania infantum ͉ Leishmaniasis ͉ parasitic protozoa ͉ phylogeny ͉ population genetics

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“…Amastigotes of the ~100 million year old Paleoleishmania proterus were observed in Cretaceous reptilian blood [9], supporting that the reptile-infecting Sauroleishmania subgenus evolved first in the Palearctic. However, this requires that the Sauroleishmania form a sister clade to all other Leishmania species [3, 7], and implies that adaptation to mammals, possibly murid rodents, occurred later when reptiles declined during the global cooling episode that denotes the Eocene to Oligocene transition [6, 8, 10]. Alternatively, the Neotropical origins hypothesis suggests Leishmania appeared in the Neotropics between 34 and 46 MYA and was dispersed to the Nearctic by rodents (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Multiple Origins hypothesis, also known as the Neotropical/African Origins hypothesis [6], considers the origins of the Euleishmania, comprising the Leishmania , Viannia , and Sauroleishmania subgenera, and the Paraleishmania [7] which presently includes Endotrypanum and the newly established genus, Porcisia Shaw, Camargo and Teixeira, 2016 [12]. This hypothesis supposes that the Euleishmania and Paraleishmania existed as separate lineages prior to the breakup of Gondwana.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of Novel Trypanosomatid, Zelonia australiensis sp. nov. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) Provides Support for a Gondwanan Origin of Dixenous Parasitism in the Leishmaniinae

et al. 2017

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The genus Leishmania includes approximately 53 species, 20 of which cause human leishmaniais; a significant albeit neglected tropical disease. Leishmaniasis has afflicted humans for millennia, but how ancient is Leishmania and where did it arise? These questions have been hotly debated for decades and several theories have been proposed. One theory suggests Leishmania originated in the Palearctic, and dispersed to the New World via the Bering land bridge. Others propose that Leishmania evolved in the Neotropics. The Multiple Origins theory suggests that separation of certain Old World and New World species occurred due to the opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Some suggest that the ancestor of the dixenous genera Leishmania, Endotrypanum and Porcisia evolved on Gondwana between 90 and 140 million years ago. In the present study a detailed molecular and morphological characterisation was performed on a novel Australian trypanosomatid following its isolation in Australia’s tropics from the native black fly, Simulium (Morops) dycei Colbo, 1976. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted and confirmed this parasite as a sibling to Zelonia costaricensis, a close relative of Leishmania previously isolated from a reduviid bug in Costa Rica. Consequently, this parasite was assigned the name Zelonia australiensis sp. nov. Assuming Z. costaricensis and Z. australiensis diverged when Australia and South America became completely separated, their divergence occurred between 36 and 41 million years ago at least. Using this vicariance event as a calibration point for a phylogenetic time tree, the common ancestor of the dixenous genera Leishmania, Endotrypanum and Porcisia appeared in Gondwana approximately 91 million years ago. Ultimately, this study contributes to our understanding of trypanosomatid diversity, and of Leishmania origins by providing support for a Gondwanan origin of dixenous parasitism in the Leishmaniinae.

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Speculations on the origin and evolution of the genus Leishmania

Abstract: Recently two hypotheses have been proposed for the evolution of

Cited by 58 publications

References 20 publications

Compared genomics of the strand switch region of Leishmania chromosome 1 reveal a novel genus-specific gene and conserved structural features and sequence motifs

Compared genomics of the strand switch region of Leishmania chromosome 1 reveal a novel genus-specific gene and conserved structural features and sequence motifs

Evolutionary and geographical history of the Leishmania donovani complex with a revision of current taxonomy

Isolation of Novel Trypanosomatid, Zelonia australiensis sp. nov. (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) Provides Support for a Gondwanan Origin of Dixenous Parasitism in the Leishmaniinae

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