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Self-Hybridization in Leishmania major.

Tiago R Ferreira1, Ehud Inbar1, Jahangheer Shaik1

  • 1Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

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|November 17, 2022
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Summary

Self-mating in Leishmania parasites was confirmed within sand flies, occurring at frequencies similar to interstrain mating. This process generates significant genomic alterations, including karyotype variation and loss of heterozygosity, potentially impacting parasite diversity.

Keywords:
Leishmaniahybridizationmeiosissand fly

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Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Sexual reproduction in Leishmania is a proposed source of genetic diversity.
  • Genetic exchange occurs within the sand fly vector midgut.
  • Opportunities for interstrain mating are limited in natural settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate intraclonal genetic exchange (self-mating) in Leishmania.
  • To analyze whole-genome sequencing of selfing progeny and their parents.
  • To understand the impact of self-hybridization on Leishmania genomics.

Main Methods:

  • Crossing two Leishmania major strains with different drug-resistance markers.
  • Experimental confirmation of self-hybridization in Phlebotomus duboscqi.
  • High-resolution whole-genome sequencing of progeny, parents, and subclones.

Main Results:

  • Self-hybridization in Leishmania major occurs at frequencies comparable to interstrain crosses.
  • Evidence of classical meiotic genetic exchange, including biallelic inheritance of rare homozygous SNPs.
  • Observed alterations in SNP transmission, recombination of heterozygous SNPs, and changes in chromosome somy.
  • Whole-genome polyploidization detected in selfing progeny.

Conclusions:

  • Self-hybridization in Leishmania is a significant source of genomic variation, including karyotype changes and loss of heterozygosity.
  • This process can occur in any infected sand fly, contributing to functional diversity.
  • Intraclonal genetic exchange represents an important mechanism for Leishmania evolution.