Comparative genomics of Leishmania (Mundinia)

• Published in: BMC genomics Vol. 20; no. 1; pp. 726 - 12
• Main Authors: Butenko, Anzhelika, Kostygov, Alexei Y., Sádlová, Jovana, Kleschenko, Yuliya, Bečvář, Tomáš, Podešvová, Lucie, Macedo, Diego H., Žihala, David, Lukeš, Julius, Bates, Paul A., Volf, Petr, Opperdoes, Fred R., Yurchenko, Vyacheslav
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 11.10.2019; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analysis; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Biological evolution; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cell surface; Datasets; Disease transmission; DNA binding proteins; DNA sequencing; Estimates; Eukaryote microbial genomics; Evolution; Evolution (Biology); Evolution, Molecular; Flagellates; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genome Size; Genomes; Genomics; Host Specificity; Host-bacteria relationships; Host-parasite relationships; L. (M.) macropodum; L. (M.) martiniquensis; Leishmania; Leishmania (Mundinia) enriettii; Leishmania - classification; Leishmania - genetics; Leishmaniasis; Life Sciences; Liquefied petroleum gas; Microarrays; Microbial Genetics and Genomics; Organs; Parasites; Phylogeny; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Ploidies; Proteins; Proteomics; Protozoan Proteins - genetics; Reptiles; Research Article; Signs and symptoms; Skin; Software; Switches; Vectors; Whole Exome Sequencing; Whole genome sequencing; Whole Genome Sequencing - methods; Zinc finger proteins; United States > US; Ghana; (; Whole genome sequencing; ); Leishmania (Mundinia) enriettii; L. (M.) macropodum; L. (M.) martiniquensis
• ISSN: 1471-2164; 1471-2164
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6126-y

Background Trypanosomatids of the genus Leishmania are parasites of mammals or reptiles transmitted by bloodsucking dipterans. Many species of these flagellates cause important human diseases with clinical symptoms ranging from skin sores to life-threatening damage of visceral organs. The genus Leishmania contains four subgenera: Leishmania , Sauroleishmania , Viannia , and Mundinia . The last subgenus has been established recently and remains understudied, although Mundinia contains human-infecting species. In addition, it is interesting from the evolutionary viewpoint, representing the earliest branch within the genus and possibly with a different type of vector. Here we analyzed the genomes of L . ( M .) martiniquensis , L . ( M .) enriettii and L. ( M .) macropodum to better understand the biology and evolution of these parasites. Results All three genomes analyzed were approximately of the same size (~ 30 Mb) and similar to that of L. ( Sauroleishmania ) tarentolae , but smaller than those of the members of subgenera Leishmania and Viannia , or the genus Endotrypanum (~ 32 Mb). This difference was explained by domination of gene losses over gains and contractions over expansions at the Mundinia node, although only a few of these genes could be identified. The analysis predicts significant changes in the Mundinia cell surface architecture, with the most important ones relating to losses of LPG-modifying side chain galactosyltransferases and arabinosyltransferases, as well as β-amastins. Among other important changes were gene family contractions for the oxygen-sensing adenylate cyclases and FYVE zinc finger-containing proteins. Conclusions We suggest that adaptation of Mundinia to different vectors and hosts has led to alternative host-parasite relationships and, thereby, made some proteins redundant. Thus, the evolution of genomes in the genus Leishmania and, in particular, in the subgenus Mundinia was mainly shaped by host (or vector) switches.