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Phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of Chinese Leishmania isolates based on multilocus sequence typing
Chun-Ying Zhang1, Xiao-Jun Lu, Xiao-Qing Du
1Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Plos One
|May 7, 2013
Summary
Chinese Leishmania strains show complex evolutionary histories, with phylogeny linked to geographical origin, not disease form. This study reveals four distinct phylogenetic groups, including novel clades and relationships within the Leishmania donovani complex.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Genetics
Background:
- Leishmaniasis presents diverse clinical forms, with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) being common in China, often caused by Leishmania donovani or Leishmania infantum.
- Understanding the genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships of Leishmania parasites is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of Chinese Leishmania strains using multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
- To infer the molecular evolutionary history of Leishmania parasites in China and compare them with global strains.
Main Methods:
- Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on seven genes (five enzyme-coding, two conserved) from Chinese Leishmania isolates.
- Phylogenetic trees were constructed using concatenated nucleotide sequences analyzed with neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony models.
- Sequences from additional global Leishmania strains were retrieved from GenBank for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- Phylogenetic analyses revealed four distinct groups of Chinese Leishmania: Clade A (related to L. donovani complex), Clade B (L. turanica and Xinjiang strains), Clade C (L. gerbilli), and Clade D (Sauroleishmania).
- Clade A, pathogenic to humans and canines, was subdivided into two subclades (A1, A2), showing close relationships to worldwide L. donovani complex members.
- The study suggests geographical origin, rather than clinical form (VL or CL), influences the phylogeny of Chinese Leishmania.
Conclusions:
- Chinese Leishmania isolates exhibit a more complex evolutionary history than previously recognized.
- Phylogenetic patterns appear strongly associated with geographical origins of the parasites.
- This research provides valuable molecular data for understanding Leishmania evolution in China.
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