Mechanism of genetic exchange in American trypanosomes

Gaunt, Michael W.; Yeo, Matthew; Frame, I. A.; Stothard, J. Russell; Carrasco, Hernán J.; Taylor, Martin C.; Mena, Susana Solis; Veazey, Paul; Miles, Graham A.J.; Acosta, Nidia; Arias, Antonieta Rojas de; Miles, Michael A.

doi:10.1038/nature01438

Cited by 335 publications

(339 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…This result agrees with the hypothesis that DTU IIb and IIc may be the hybrid IId/IIe parentals (Machado and Ayala, 2001 ;Gaunt et al 2003 ;Brisse et al 2003 ;Elias et al 2005 ;Westenberger et al 2005). Recently, using 5S rRNA analysis it was confirmed that the hybrids IId/IIe are heterozygous and have sequences from DTU IIb and IIc (Westenberger et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Evolutionary history ofTrypanosoma cruziaccording to antigen genes

et al. 2008

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Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas disease is associated with a very high clinical and epidemiological pleomorphism. This might be better understood through studies on the evolutionary history of the parasite. We explored here the value of antigen genes for the understanding of the evolution within T. cruzi. We selected 11 genes and 12 loci associated with different functions and considered to be involved in host-parasite interaction (cell adhesion, infection, molecular mimicry). The polymorphism of the respective genes in a sample representative of the diversity of T. cruzi was screened by PCR-RFLP and evolutionary relationships were inferred by phenetic analysis. Our results support the classification of T. cruzi in 2 major lineages and 6 discrete typing units (DTUs). The topology of the PCR-RFLP tree was the one that better fitted with the epidemiological features of the different DTUs: (i) lineage I, being encountered in sylvatic as well as domestic transmission cycles, (ii) IIa/c being associated with a sylvatic transmission cycle and (iii) IIb/d/e being associated with a domestic transmission cycle. Our study also supported the hypothesis that the evolutionary history of T. cruzi has been shaped by a series of hybridization events in the framework of a predominant clonal evolution pattern.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Evolutionary history ofTrypanosoma cruziaccording to antigen genes

et al. 2008

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“…Microsatellite analysis of TcIId/IIe using 8 loci supported the conclusions drawn from DNA content measurements, since only 1 case of allelic aneuploidy was identified ). Again, this was in contrast to the experimental TcI hybrids which exhibited >2 alleles at multiple loci (Gaunt et al 2003).…”

Section: G E N E T I C E X C H a N G E I N T R Y P A N O S O M A C R contrasting

confidence: 75%

The molecular epidemiology and phylogeography of Trypanosoma cruzi and parallel research on Leishmania: looking back and to the future

et al. 2009

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SUMMARYTrypanosoma cruzi is the protozoan agent of Chagas disease, and the most important parasitic disease in Latin America. Protozoa of the genus Leishmania are global agents of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, fatal and disfiguring diseases. In the 1970s multilocus enzyme electrophoresis demonstrated that T. cruzi is a heterogeneous complex. Six zymodemes were described, corresponding with currently recognized lineages, TcI and TcIIa-e – now defined by multiple genetic markers. Molecular epidemiology has substantially resolved the phylogeography and ecological niches of the T. cruzi lineages. Genetic hybridization has fundamentally influenced T. cruzi evolution and epidemiology of Chagas disease. Genetic exchange of T. cruzi in vitro involves fusion of diploids and genome erosion, producing aneuploid hybrids. Transgenic fluorescent clones are new tools to elucidate molecular genetics and phenotypic variation. We speculate that pericardial sequestration plays a role in pathogenesis. Multilocus sequence typing, microsatellites and, ultimately, comparative genomics are improving understanding of T. cruzi population genetics. Similarly, in Leishmania, genetic groups have been defined, including epidemiologically important hybrids; genetic exchange can occur in the sand fly vector. We describe the profound impact of this parallel research on genetic diversity of T. cruzi and Leishmania, in the context of epidemiology, taxonomy and disease control.

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“…Experimental recombination in T. cruzi was shown to arise in mammalian cell cultures (Gaunt et al . 2003). The aforementioned Didelphimorphia maintain high levels of multiclonal parasite populations, providing ample opportunities for hybridization to occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While the biological cues that initiate genetic exchange remain unresolved (Gaunt et al . 2003; Lewis et al . 2010), in these populations we speculate that asymmetric introgression may act as a mechanism to facilitate ecological fitting (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological host fitting of Trypanosoma cruzi TcI in Bolivia: mosaic population structure, hybridization and a role for humans in Andean parasite dispersal

et al. 2015

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An improved understanding of how a parasite species exploits its genetic repertoire to colonize novel hosts and environmental niches is crucial to establish the epidemiological risk associated with emergent pathogenic genotypes. Trypanosoma cruzi, a genetically heterogeneous, multi‐host zoonosis, provides an ideal system to examine the sylvatic diversification of parasitic protozoa. In Bolivia, T. cruzi I, the oldest and most widespread genetic lineage, is pervasive across a range of ecological clines. High‐resolution nuclear (26 loci) and mitochondrial (10 loci) genotyping of 199 contemporaneous sylvatic TcI clones was undertaken to provide insights into the biogeographical basis of T. cruzi evolution. Three distinct sylvatic parasite transmission cycles were identified: one highland population among terrestrial rodent and triatomine species, composed of genetically homogenous strains (A r = 2.95; PA/L = 0.61; DAS = 0.151), and two highly diverse, parasite assemblages circulating among predominantly arboreal mammals and vectors in the lowlands (A r = 3.40 and 3.93; PA/L = 1.12 and 0.60; DAS = 0.425 and 0.311, respectively). Very limited gene flow between neighbouring terrestrial highland and arboreal lowland areas (distance ~220 km; FST = 0.42 and 0.35) but strong connectivity between ecologically similar but geographically disparate terrestrial highland ecotopes (distance >465 km; FST = 0.016–0.084) strongly supports ecological host fitting as the predominant mechanism of parasite diversification. Dissimilar heterozygosity estimates (excess in highlands, deficit in lowlands) and mitochondrial introgression among lowland strains may indicate fundamental differences in mating strategies between populations. Finally, accelerated parasite dissemination between densely populated, highland areas, compared to uninhabited lowland foci, likely reflects passive, long‐range anthroponotic dispersal. The impact of humans on the risk of epizootic Chagas disease transmission in Bolivia is discussed.

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Mechanism of genetic exchange in American trypanosomes

Cited by 335 publications

References 27 publications

Evolutionary history ofTrypanosoma cruziaccording to antigen genes

Evolutionary history ofTrypanosoma cruziaccording to antigen genes

The molecular epidemiology and phylogeography of Trypanosoma cruzi and parallel research on Leishmania: looking back and to the future

Ecological host fitting of Trypanosoma cruzi TcI in Bolivia: mosaic population structure, hybridization and a role for humans in Andean parasite dispersal

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