Whole-genome sequencing of Trypanosoma brucei reveals introgression between subspecies that is associated with virulence.

ABSTRACT:

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Human African trypanosomiasis is caused by two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense is found in East Africa and frequently causes acute disease, while Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is found in West Africa and is associated with chronic disease. Samples taken from a single focus of a Ugandan outbreak of T. b. rhodesiense in the 1980s were associated with either chronic or acute disease. We sequenced the whole genomes of two of these isolates, which showed that they are genetically distinct from each other. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism markers in a panel of 31 Ugandan isolates plus 32 controls revealed a mixture of East African and West African haplotypes, and some of these haplotypes were associated with the different virulence phe

SUBMITTER: Goodhead I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3747575 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature