Nuclear and mitochondrial genome sequencing of North-African Leishmania infantum isolates from cured and relapsed visceral leishmaniasis patients reveals variations correlating with geography and phenotype.

ABSTRACT: Although several studies have investigated genetic diversity of Leishmania infantum in North Africa, genome-wide analyses are lacking. Here, we conducted comparative analyses of nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of seven L. infantum isolates from Tunisia with the aim to gain insight into factors that drive genomic and phenotypic adaptation. Isolates were from cured (n=4) and recurrent (n=3) visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases, originating from northern (n=2) and central (n=5) Tunisia, where respectively stable and emerging VL foci are observed. All isolates from relapsed patients were from Kairouan governorate (Centre); one showing resistance to the anti-leishmanial drug Meglumine antimoniate. Nuclear genome diversity of the isolates was analy

SUBMITTER: Bussotti G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7660250 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature