Differential locus expansion distinguishes Toxoplasmatinae species and closely related strains of Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT:

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Toxoplasma gondii is a human obligate intracellular parasite that has infected over 20% of the world population and has a vast intermediate host range compared to those of its nearest relatives Neospora caninum and Hammondia hammondi. While these 3 species have highly syntenic genomes (80 to 99%), in this study we examined and compared species-specific structural variations, specifically at loci that have undergone local (i.e., tandem) duplication and expansion. To do so, we used genomic sequence coverage analysis to identify and curate T. gondii and N. caninum loci that have undergone duplication and expansion (expanded loci [ELs]). The 53 T. gondii ELs are significantly enriched for genes with predicted signal sequences and single-exon genes and genes that are developm

SUBMITTER: Adomako-Ankomah Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3950507 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature