Trypanosoma Cruzi Genome: Organization, Multi-Gene Families, Transcription, and Biological Implications

Abstract

Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi affects millions of people. Although its first genome dates from 2005, its complexity hindered a complete assembly and annotation. However, the new sequencing methods have improved genome annotation of some strains elucidating the broad genetic diversity and complexity of this parasite. Here, we reviewed the genomic structure and regulation, the genetic diversity, and the analysis of the principal multi-gene families of the recent genomes for several strains. The telomeric and sub-telomeric regions are sites with high recombination events, the genome displays two different compartments, the core and the disruptive, and the genome plasticity seems to play a key role in the survival and the infection process. Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) genome is composed mainly of multi-gene families as the trans-sialidases, mucins, and mucin-associated surface proteins. Trans-sialidases are the most abundant genes in the genome and show an important role in the effectiveness of the infection and the parasite survival. Mucins and MASPs are also important glycosylated proteins of the surface of the parasite that play a major biological role in both insect and mammal-dwelling stages. Altogether, these studies confirm the complexity of T. cruzi genome revealing relevant concepts to better understand Chagas disease.

Biophysical and Biochemical Comparison of Extracellular Vesicles Produced by Infective and Non-Infective Stages of Trypanosoma cruzi

“…Noteworthy, only the EVs from TCT carry TS proteins with catalytic activity (group I). Indeed, the proteomic analyses of the EVs of TCT have revealed the presence of the highly antigenic shed acute antigen (SAPA) belonging to TS group I, which presents C-terminal extensions which were suggested to protect the catalytic enzymatic activity as well as high reactivity of IgG and IgM antibodies against this protein [ 40 ]. In accordance with this data, previous works showed that E forms have a depletion of sialylated mucin acceptors [ 41 ], and a reduction transfer of sialylated products, since TS catalytic activity is 83% lower compared to the T stage [ 42 ].…”

All Roads Lead to Cytosol: Trypanosoma cruzi Multi-Strategic Approach to Invasion

“…Among these families are the Trans-sialidase (TS) superfamily (about 1400 genes), the mucin family (about 860 genes), the Dispersed Gene Family-1 (DGF-1) family (565 genes) and the Mucin-Associated Surface Proteins (MASPs) family, which comprises around 1370 genes ( El-Sayed et al, 2005 ; Kawashita et al, 2009 ). This incredible number of genes, coupled to tightly regulated post-transcriptional control of gene expression, are key players in the specific stage expression of the main surface constituents ( Herreros-Cabello et al, 2020 ). As a consequence of the great expansion of surface protein families, the parasite is able to interact with a large number of surface receptors on the different host cells, a fundamental requirement for invasion.…”

The Complete Mitochondrial DNA of Trypanosoma cruzi: Maxicircles and Minicircles

“…T. cruzi is characterized for showing a great genomic heterogeneity and plasticity across strains ( Reis-Cunha et al., 2015 ; Callejas-Hernández et al., 2018 ; Herreros-Cabello et al., 2020 ). This diversity at the genomic level, has promoted the creation of different methods for the classification of hundreds of strains described to date ( Zingales et al., 2009 ; Zingales et al., 2012 ; Barnabé et al., 2016 ).…”