Chromosomal copy number variation reveals differential levels of genomic plasticity in distinct Trypanosoma cruzi strains.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, is currently divided into six discrete typing units (DTUs), named TcI-TcVI. CL Brener, the reference strain of the T. cruzi genome project, is a hybrid with a genome assembled into 41 putative chromosomes. Gene copy number variation (CNV) is well documented as an important mechanism to enhance gene expression and variability in T. cruzi. Chromosomal CNV (CCNV) is another level of gene CNV in which whole blocks of genes are expanded simultaneously. Although the T. cruzi karyotype is not well defined, several studies have demonstrated a significant variation in the size and content of chromosomes between different T. cruzi strains. Despite these studies, the extent of diversity in CCNV among T. cruzi strains based o

SUBMITTER: Reis-Cunha JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4491234 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature