biostudies-literatureKay Cbiotechnology and biological sciences research councilRoyal SocietyBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Councile1010300https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8863249biostudies-literatureUnknown18(2)Genetic exchange among disease-causing micro-organisms can generate progeny that combine different pathogenic traits. Though sexual reproduction has been described in trypanosomes, its impact on the epidemiology of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) remains controversial. However, human infective and non-human infective strains of Trypanosoma brucei circulate in the same transmission cycles in HAT endemic areas in subsaharan Africa, providing the opportunity for mating during the developmental cycle in the tsetse fly vector. Here we investigated inheritance among progeny from a laboratory cross of T. brucei and then applied these insights to genomic analysis of field-collected isolates to identify signatures of past genetic exchange. Genomes of two parental and four hybrid progeny clones PLoS pathogensSignatures of hybridization in Trypanosoma brucei.PMC8863249BBS/E/T/000PR9816BB/R016437/1BBSRC project grant BB/R016437/1URF\R\201024BBSRC project grant BB/R010188/1BB/R010188/1Williams TAKay CPeacock LGibson WfalseSignatures of hybridization in Trypanosoma brucei.Genetic exchange among disease-causing micro-organisms can generate progeny that combine different pathogenic traits. Though sexual reproduction has been described in trypanosomes, its impact on the epidemiology of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) remains controversial. However, human infective and non-human infective strains of Trypanosoma brucei circulate in the same transmission cycles in HAT endemic areas in subsaharan Africa, providing the opportunity for mating during the developmental cycle in the tsetse fly vector. Here we investigated inheritance among progeny from a laboratory cross of T. brucei and then applied these insights to genomic analysis of field-collected isolates to identify signatures of past genetic exchange. Genomes of two parental and four hybrid progeny clones 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Feb2026-05-31T08:09:23.852Z2026-04-08T08:17:14.108ZS-EPMC88632493513913110.1371/journal.ppat.1010300