Infection, Genetics and Evolution
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Evolution of the Sequence Composition of Flaviviruses.
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The adaption of pathogens to their host(s) is a major factor in the emergence of infectious disease and the persistent survival of many of the infectious diseases within the population. Since many of the smaller viral pathogens are entirely dependent upon host machinery, it has been postulated that they are under selection for a composition similar to that of their host. Analyses of sequence composition have been conducted for numerous small viral species including the Flavivirus genus. Examination of the species within this particular genus that infect vertebrate hosts revealed that sequence composition proclivities d...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 12, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Schubert AM, Putonti C Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Phylogeny of Leishmania species based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene.Email this article to a colleague.
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Fraga J, Montalvo AM, De Doncker S, Dujardin J-C, Van der Auwera G, Phylogeny of Leishmania species based on the heat-shock protein 70 gene., Infection, Genetics and Evolution. The 70kDa heat-shock protein (HSP70) is conserved across prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the protein as well as its encoding gene have been applied in phylogenetic studies of different parasites. In spite of the frequent use of New World Leishmania species identification on the basis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) in the hsp70 gene, it was never sequenced extensively for studying evolutionary relationships. To fill this void...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 10, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Fraga J, Montalvo AM, De Doncker S, Dujardin JC, Van der Auwera G Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Identification of subspecies specific genes differentially expressed in procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei subspecies.Email this article to a colleague.
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Trypanosoma brucei subspecies undergo establishment and maturation in tsetse flies mid-gut and salivary glands respectively. Successful establishment of trypanosomes in tsetse mid-gut as well as their migration to saliva gland depends on the ability of these parasites to adapt rapidly to new environmental conditions and to negotiate the physical barriers. To identify subspecies specific genes which are differentially regulated during the establishment of Trypanosoma brucei subspecies in tsetse flies mid gut, a comparative genomic analysis between different Trypanosoma brucei subspecies was performed using microarrays c...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 10, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Simo G, Queiroz R, Herder S, Cuny G, Hoheisel J Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Sequence analysis and pcr-rflp profiling of the hsp70 Gene as a valuable tool for identifying Leishmania species associated with human leishmaniasis in Brazil.Email this article to a colleague.
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Since the first report of the genus Leishmania, many species have been described. In Brazil, human leishmaniasis has been associated with eight Leishmania species, of which seven are responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). In some endemic areas, CL is associated with only one species; however, in other areas, such as the Amazon, the etiology of CL can be assigned to many species. The multitude of highly similar Leishmania species in Brazil makes it difficult to develop an appropriate method of typing them. Most Leishmania species were first described based on epidemiological and biological characteristics, and th...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 10, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Silva LA, Sousa CD, Graça GC, Porrozzi R, Cupolillo E Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Microsatellite loci in the carcinogenic liver fluke, opisthorchis viverrini and their application as population genetic markers.Email this article to a colleague.
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MICROSATELLITE LOCI IN THE CARCINOGENIC LIVER FLUKE, OPISTHORCHIS VIVERRINI AND THEIR APPLICATION AS POPULATION GENETIC MARKERS.
Infect Genet Evol. 2009 Nov 6;
Authors: Laoprom N, Sithithaworn P, Ando K, Sithithaworn J, Wongkham S, Laha T, Klinbunga S, Webster JP, Andrews RH
Opisthorchis viverrini is a carcinogenic foodborne trematode endemic in Southeast Asia especially in Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Opisthorchiasis causes hepatobiliary diseases and cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer). Currently there is substantial evidence on genetic variation of O.viverrini but the information on po...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Laoprom N, Sithithaworn P, Ando K, Sithithaworn J, Wongkham S, Laha T, Klinbunga S, Webster JP, Andrews RH Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
A repertoire of the dominant transcripts from the salivary glands of the blood-sucking bug, Triatoma dimidiata, a vector of Chagas disease.Email this article to a colleague.
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Triatoma (T.) dimidiata is a hematophagous Hemiptera and a main vector of Chagas disease. The saliva of this and other blood sucking insects contain potent pharmacologically active components that assist them in counteracting the host hemostatic and inflammatory systems during blood feeding. To describe the repertoire of potential bioactive salivary molecules from this insect, a number of randomly selected transcripts from the salivary gland cDNA library of T. dimidiata were sequenced and analyzed. This analysis showed that 77.5% of the isolated transcripts coded for putative secreted proteins, and 89.9% of these coded...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Kato H, Jochim RC, Sakoda R, Iwata H, Gomez EA, Valenzuela JG, Hashiguchi Y Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Panmictic structure of the genetic diversity of apomictic Meloidogyne nematodes (Nematoda: Tylenchida).Email this article to a colleague.
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Species delineation in parthenogenetic tropical species of Meloidogyne nematodes is particularly difficult although they are strictly apomictic. In fact, parthenogenesis in Meloidogyne nematodes is a recent phenomenon and the structure of the genetic diversity is mainly explained by crosses prior to the establishment of parthenogenesis. Under such hypothesis, increasing the size of a characterized sample by adding individuals should result in the decrease of the diversity structure. Twelve individuals from different geographical origins were added to the initial pool of 26 lines characterized in a previous study and an...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Fargette M, Lollier V, Hernandez A, Frutos R Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Reassessing conflicting evolutionary histories of the Paramyxoviridae and the origins of Respiroviruses with Bayesian multigene phylogenies.Email this article to a colleague.
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The evolution of paramyxoviruses is still poorly understood since past phylogenetic studies have revealed conflicting evolutionary signals among genes, and used varying methods and datasets. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of full length single and concatenated sequences for the 6 genes shared among paramyxovirus genera, we reassess the ambiguous evolutionary relationships within the family, and examine causes of varying phylogenetic signals among different genes. Relative to a pneumovirus outgroup, the concatenated gene phylogeny, splits the Paramyxovirinae into two lineages, one comprising the avulaviruses and r...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - November 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: McCarthy AJ, Goodman SJ Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Comparative genomics of epidemic versus sporadic Staphylococcus aureus strains does not reveal molecular markers for epidemicity.Email this article to a colleague.
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Staphylococcus aureus, especially when it is methicillin resistant, has been recognised as a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. It has also been shown that certain strains were able to cause clonal epidemics whereas others showed a more incidental occurrence. On the basis of this behavioural distinction, a genetic feature underlying this difference in epidemicity can be assumed. Understanding the difference will not only contribute to the development of markers for the identification of epidemic strains but will also shed light on the evolution of clones. Genomes of strains from 2 independent ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 30, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Kuhn G, Koessler T, Melles DC, Francois P, Huyghe A, Dunman P, Vos MC, Zanetti G, Schrenzel J, van Belkum A, Blanc DS Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Genetic diversity and molecular evolution of human and non-human primate Gammaherpesvirinae.Email this article to a colleague.
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The Gammaherpesvirinae sub-family is divided into two genera: Lymphocryptovirus and Rhadinovirus. Until the middle of the 1990s, the Rhadinovirus genus was only represented by Herpesvirus saimiri and Herpesvirus ateles, which infect New World monkey species. Until the year 2000, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the human prototype of the Lymphocryptovirus, and simian homologues had only been detected in humans and Old World non-human primates. It was thought, therefore, that the separation of the continents had resulted in drastic changes in Gammaherpesvirinae evolution. The discovery of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesviru...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 29, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Lacoste V, Lavergne A, de Thoisy B, Pouliquen JF, Gessain A Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
ABC: A useful Bayesian tool for the analysis of population data.Email this article to a colleague.
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Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is a recently developed technique for solving problems in Bayesian inference. Although typically less accurate than, for example, the frequently used Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, they have greater flexibility because they do not require the specification of a likelihood function. For this reason considerable amounts of data can be analysed and more complex models can be used providing, thereby, a potential better fit of the model to the data. Since its first applications in the late 1990's its usage has been steadily increasing. The framework was originally developed t...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 29, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Lopes JS, Beaumont MA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Bordetella pertussis and vaccination: the persistence of a genetically monomorphic pathogen.Email this article to a colleague.
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Before childhood vaccination was introduced in the 1950s, pertussis or whooping cough was a major cause of infant death worldwide. Widespread vaccination of children was successful in significantly reducing morbidity and mortality. However, despite vaccination, pertussis has persisted and, in the 1990s, resurged in a number of countries with highly vaccinated populations. Indeed, pertussis has become the most prevalent vaccine-preventable disease in developed countries with estimated infection frequencies of 1%-6%. Recently vaccinated children are well protected against pertussis disease and its increase is mainly seen...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 29, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mooi FR Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Evolutionary selection associated with the multi-function of overlapping genes in the hepatitis B virus.Email this article to a colleague.
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It is challenging to understand the discrete roles of each point mutation in viral evolution, but overlapping genes provide an excellent entrance for the investigation of this complicated process. We obtained 132 sequences from the largest overlapping region in the HBV genome. Based on the genetic divergence between genotype B and C, we distinguished a set of related footprint mutations that are believed to be responsible for historical selection events. Examining the mutations in the functional domains, we found that the virus has adopted a coherent strategy in its evolutionary process that can be summarized as follow...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Zhang D, Chen J, Deng L, Mao Q, Zheng J, Wu J, Li Y Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Prevalence of 5' Insertion Mutants and analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Erythrocyte Binding-like 1 (ebl-1) gene in Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum field isolates.Email this article to a colleague.
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This study is now extended to include field isolates collected from sites within Kenya. DNA isolated from blood samples of infected patients was utilized to amplify the region I sequence of ebl-1 gene in order to investigate polymorphism in the region immediately adjacent to the 5' cysteine-rich domains, and to determine the prevalence of an insertion mutant that effectively knocks out the gene.
PMID: 19879379 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution)
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Githui EK, Peterson DS, Aman RA, Abdi AI Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Tripartite Interactions between Tsetse Flies, Sodalisglossinidius and Trypanosomes - An Epidemiological Approach in Two Historical Human African Trypanosomiasis Foci in Cameroon.Email this article to a colleague.
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Epidemiological surveys were conducted in two historical human African trypanosomiasis foci in South Cameroon, Bipindi and Campo. In each focus, three sampling areas were defined. In Bipindi, only Glossina palpalis was identified, whereas four species were identified in Campo, G. palpalis being highly predominant (93%). For further analyses, 75 flies were randomly chosen among the flies trapped in each of the six villages. Large and statistically significant differences were recorded between both (1) the prevalence of Sodalis glossinidius (tsetse symbiont) and the prevalence of trypanosome infection of the major fly sp...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Farikou O, Njiokou F, Mbida JA, Njitchouang GR, Djeunga HN, Asonganyi T, Simarro PP, Cuny G, Geiger A Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Amino acid and structural variability of Yersinia pestis LcrV protein.Email this article to a colleague.
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The LcrV protein is a multifunctional virulence factor and protective antigen of the plague bacterium and is generally conserved between the epidemic strains of Yersinia pestis. We investigated the diversity in the LcrV sequences among non-epidemic Y. pestis strains which have a limited virulence in selected animal models and for humans. Sequencing of lcrV genes from 19 Y. pestis strains belonging to different phylogenetic groups ("subspecies") showed that the LcrV proteins possess four major variable hotspots at positions 18, 72, 273, and 324-326. These major variations, together with other minor substitutions in amin...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 12, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Anisimov AP, Dentovskaya SV, Panfertsev EA, Svetoch TE, Kopylov PK, Segelke BW, Zemla A, Telepnev MV, Motin VL Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
The Tempo and Mode of Molecular Evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at Patient-to-Patient Scale.Email this article to a colleague.
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A total of six polymorphisms were identified by comparing the genomes of the first and the last isolate of a well characterized transmission chain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis involving five patients over a 12 and a half year period. The six polymorphisms consisted of four single nucleotide changes (SNPs), a tandem repeat polymorphism (TRP) and a previously identified IS6110 transposition event. These polymorphic sites were surveyed in each of the isolates from the five patients in the transmission chain. Surprisingly, five of the six polymorphisms accumulated in a single patient in the transmission chain; this patien...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 12, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Schürch AC, Kremer K, Kiers A, Daviena O, Boeree MJ, Siezen R, Smith NH, van Soolingen D Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
The Evolutionary Biology of Poxviruses.Email this article to a colleague.
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The poxviruses (family Poxviridae) are a family of double-stranded viruses including several species that infect humans and their domestic animals, most notably Variola virus (VARV), the causative agent of smallpox. The evolutionary biology of these viruses poses numerous questions, for which we have only partial answers at present. Here we review evidence regarding the origin of poxviruses, the frequency of host transfer in poxvirus history, horizontal transfer of host genes to poxviruses, and the population processes accounting for patterns of nucleotide sequence polymorphism.
PMID: 19833230 [PubMed - as supplied...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 11, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Hughes AL, Irausquin S, Friedman R Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Editorial of the special issue "Parasitology in Mexico" Dolores Correa, Patricia Talamás and Ana Flisser, invited editors.Email this article to a colleague.
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Editorial of the special issue "Parasitology in Mexico" Dolores Correa, Patricia Talamás and Ana Flisser, invited editors.
Infect Genet Evol. 2009 Oct 12;
Authors: Correa D, Talamás-Rohana P, Flisser DA
PMID: 19833231 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution)
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 11, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Correa D, Talamás-Rohana P, Flisser DA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Comparative performance of the REGA Subtyping tool version 2 versus version 1.Email this article to a colleague.
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The Rega HIV 1 subtyping tool is a phylogenetic-based method for subtyping HIV-1 genomic sequences that was published in 2005. The subtyping tool combines phylogenetic approaches with recombination detection methods. Recently, version 2 was released (http://www.bioafrica.net/rega-genotype/html/index.html) as an improvement of version 1. Version 2 implements a Decision-Tree-based algorithm that was not implemented in version 1. We wanted to compare the two versions to assess the improvements of version 2 on a large sequence dataset and to verify whether features lost during updating the tool had to be recovered. We anal...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 8, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Abecasis AB, Wang Y, Libin P, Imbrechts S, de Oliveira T, Camacho RJ, Vandamme AM Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Comparative description of haplotype structure and genetic diversity of MDR1 (ABCB1) in HIV-positive and HIV-negative populations.Email this article to a colleague.
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Infection, Genetics and Evolution Human P-glycoprotein (P-gp), encoded by MDR1 (ABCB1), is an efflux transporter with a wide specificity for substrates/drugs, including HIV protease inhibitors which are commonly used in HIV/AIDS treatment. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MDR1 have been shown to affect P-gp expression and function, and may affect HIV/AIDS treatment outcome: 1236C>T [G412G, exon-12], 2677G>T/A [A893S/T, exon-21] and 3435C>T [I1145I, exon-26]. In the present study, our aims were (i) to compare the 3-SNP MDR1 haplotype structure and genetic diversity between North American HIV-posi...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 7, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Benish RL, Rodriguez B, Zimmerman PA, Mehlotra RK Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Population genetic structure of Central African Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates using microsatellite DNA markers.Email this article to a colleague.
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Genetic variation of microsatellite loci is a widely used method for the analysis of population genetic structure of micro-organisms. Seven microsatellite markers were used here to characterize Trypanosoma bruceigambiense isolates from Central Africa sub-region in order to improve knowledge on the population genetic structure of this subspecies. These markers confirmed the low genetic polymorphism within Central African Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates from the same focus and strong differentiation between different foci. The presence of many multilocus genotypes of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and the excess of h...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 7, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Simo G, Njiokou F, Tume C, Lueong S, De Meeûs T, Cuny G, Asonganyi T Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Group Differences in Proneness to Inflammation.Email this article to a colleague.
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All humans are primarily descendants from a diaspora out of Africa approximately 50,000 years ago although there are some indications of admixture with local populations of archaic humans outside Africa. The burden of infectious disease is greater in tropical Africa than elsewhere on earth in istoric times and it was less outside Africa, especially in the New World where passage through the Beringian filter kept many Old World parasites from entering the New World with humans. As a consequence we expect that the immune system, especially susceptibility to inflammation, will be "tuned up" in people with recent tropical ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - October 1, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Pennington R, Gatenbee C, Kennedy B, Harpending H, Cochran G Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Polyphasic study of plant- and clinic-associated Pantoea agglomerans strains reveals indistinguishable virulence potential.Email this article to a colleague.
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Pantoea species are ubiquitous in nature and occasionally associated with infections caused by contaminated clinical material. Hence, P. agglomerans is considered an opportunistic pathogen of humans. Since species of the genus Pantoea and closely related species of other Enterobacteriaceae genera are phenotypically very similar, many clinical isolates are misassigned into P. agglomerans based on use of quick commercial-offered biochemical tests. Our objective was to find markers enabling discrimination between clinical and plant isolates and to assess their virulence potential. We characterized 27 Pantoea strains, incl...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 30, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Völksch B, Thon S, Jacobsen ID, Gube M Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Darwin's Explanation of Design: From Natural Theology to Natural Selection.Email this article to a colleague.
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Copernicus, Galileo, Newton and other physical scientists ushered in a conception of the universe as matter in motion governed by natural laws. Their discoveries brought about a fundamental revolution, namely a commitment to the postulate that the universe obeys immanent laws that can account for natural phenomena. The workings of the universe were brought into the realm of science: explanation through natural laws. Darwin completed the Copernican revolution by extending it to the living world. Darwin demonstrated the evolution of organisms. More important yet is that he discovered natural selection, the process that e...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 29, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Ayala FJ Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Newcastle Disease: Evolution of Genotypes and the Related Diagnostic Challenges.Email this article to a colleague.
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Since the discovery of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in 1926, nine genotypes of class I viruses and ten of class II have been identified, representing a diverse and continually evolving group of viruses. The emergence of new virulent genotypes from global epizootics and the year-to-year changes observed in the genomic sequence of NDV of low and high virulence implies that distinct genotypes of NDV are simultaneously evolving at different geographic locations across the globe. This vast genomic diversity may be favored by the large variety of avian species susceptible to NDV infection and by the availability of highly m...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Miller PJ, Decanini EL, Afonso CL Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Detection of hepatitis E virus of genotype 3 in a farm pig in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo).Email this article to a colleague.
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Autochthonous hepatitis E is an emerging disease in industrialized countries where a growing body of data indicates that pigs represent a reservoir for hepatitis E virus (HEV) of genotype 3 or 4. In Africa, only HEV genotypes 1 and 2 have been identified in hepatitis E outbreaks as well as in sporadic cases. We aimed to investigate whether commercial pigs in sub-Saharan Africa might represent an HEV reservoir using molecular assays. Faecal samples from 40 pigs of the Pietrain race housed in a farm in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) were tested using in-house real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and sequenci...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Kaba M, Colson P, Musongela JP, Tshilolo L, Davoust B Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Phylogenetic Perspectives on the Epidemiology and Origins of SARS and SARS-like Coronaviruses.Email this article to a colleague.
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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by a zoonotic coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV (SCoV), which rapidly swept the globe after its emergence in rural China during late 2002. The origins of SCoV have been mysterious and controversial, until the recent discovery of SARS-like CoV (SLCoV) in bats and the proposal of bats as the natural reservior of the Coronaviridae family. In this article, we focused on discussing how phylogenetics contributed to our understanding towards the emergence and transmission of SCoV. We first reviewed the epidemiology of SCoV from a phylogenetic perspective ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Yip CW, Hon CC, Shi M, Lam TT, Chow KY, Zeng F, Leung FC Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
First isolation of Enterobacter, Enterococcus, and Acinetobacter spp. as inhabitants of the tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis palpalis) midgut.Email this article to a colleague.
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This paper reports the first evidence of the presence of bacteria, other than the three previously described as symbionts, Wigglesworthia glossinidia, Wolbachia, and Sodalis glossinidius, in the midgut of Glossina palpalis palpalis, the tsetse fly, a vector of the chronic form of human African trypanosomiasis in sub-Saharan African countries. Based on morphological, nutritional, physiological, and phylogenetic results, we identified Enterobacter, Enterococcus, and Acinetobacter spp. as inhabitants of the midgut of the tsetse fly. Enterobacter spp. was the most frequently isolated. The role of these bacteria in the gut,...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Geiger A, Fardeau ML, Grebaut P, Vatunga G, Josénando T, Herder S, Cuny G, Truc P, Ollivier B Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
An Assessment of a TNF Polymorphic Marker for the Risk of HCV Infection: Meta-analysis and a New Clinical Study Design.Email this article to a colleague.
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A number of studies have investigated the association between TNF-alpha -308G/A polymorphism and the risk of HCV infection; the results of these studies are conflict, however. To provide a more definitive conclusion, a meta-analysis combining and summarizing 12 studies was performed. The Mantel-Haenszel and DerSimonian-Laird methods were employed in traditional fixed effects and random effects meta-analysis, respectively. The capability of a Bayesian approach was highlighted in the estimation of a pooled odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, as well as in the calculation of a sample size for the new study design. Het...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Chen Y, Pei J Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Identification of a large hybrid zone between sympatric sibling species of Triatoma dimidiata in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, and its epidemiological importance.Email this article to a colleague.
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Triatoma dimidiata is one of the major Chagas disease vectors, with an extensive diversity in its morphology, habitat, and level of domiciliation. Molecular studies based on the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS-2) have subdivided this species in four potential taxonomic groups. Using both ITS-2 and Cytochrome B markers, we confirmed the sibling species status of ITS-2 Group 3 and detected an apparent sympatry of ITS-2 Groups 2 and 3 in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. Here we examine the geographic distribution of T. dimidiata ITS-2 genotypes in the region and compare their egg production and Trypanosoma cruzi infectio...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 24, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Herrera-Aguilar M, Be-Barragán LA, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Tripet F, Dorn P, Dumonteil E Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Molecular Characterization of INH resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates by PCR-RFLP and Multiplex-PCR in North India.Email this article to a colleague.
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In the present study, among 327 Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates collected from patients attending three different centres of North India, we attempted to find out the most common mutations occurring both at the Ser315 codon of katG and at the regulatory region of the mabA-inhA operon to evaluate their role for INH drug resistance in India. Out of 121 phenotypically INH resistant MTB isolates, 88 (72.7%) were resistant to INH by genotypic methods viz. PCR-RFLP with MspI and SatI digestion and multiplex-PCR. PCR-RFLP results showed that 67 (55.4%) isolates had mutation in codon 315 of katG by SatI endonuclease....
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 24, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mathuria JP, Nath G, Samaria JK, Anupurba S Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Molecular epidemiology of bovine anaplasmosis with a particular focus in mexico.Email this article to a colleague.
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MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BOVINE ANAPLASMOSIS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS IN MEXICO.
Infect Genet Evol. 2009 Sep 25;
Authors: Rodríguez SD, Ortiz MA, Ocampo RJ, Murguía CA
Bovine anaplasmosis, caused by the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale, has a world wide distribution and is the cause of great economic losses in developing countries where it is highly endemic. Transmission is carried mainly by ixodid ticks: Dermacentor spp, and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. Mechanical transmission is important in disseminating the disease within and across herds. The relationship between the rickettsia, the host and the ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 24, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Rodríguez SD, Ortiz MA, Ocampo RJ, Murguía CA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Assigning the source of human campylobacteriosis in New Zealand: A comparative genetic and epidemiological approach.Email this article to a colleague.
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Integrated surveillance of infectious multi-source diseases using a combination of epidemiology, ecology, genetics and evolution can provide a valuable risk-based approach for the control of important human pathogens. This includes a better understanding of transmission routes and the impact of human activities on the emergence of zoonoses. Until recently New Zealand had extraordinarily high and increasing rates of notified human campylobacteriosis, and our limited understanding of the source of these infections was hindering efforts to control this disease. Genetic and epidemiological modeling of a three-year dataset ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mullner P, Spencer SE, Wilson DJ, Jones G, Noble AD, Midwinter AC, Collins-Emerson JM, Carter P, Hathaway S, French NP Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Trypanosoma rangeli genotype association with Rhodnius prolixus and R. pallescens allopatric distribution in Central America.Email this article to a colleague.
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Salazar-Antón F., Urrea D:A:, Guhl F., Arévalo C., Azofeifa G., Urbina A., Blandón-Naranjo M., Sousa O.E., Zeledón R. and Vallejo G.A. Trypanosoma rangeli genotypes and their association with vectors and vertebrates in Central America. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. Previous kDNA polymorphism-based reports have revealed the existence of two Trypanosoma rangeli genotypes (KP1+ and KP1-); SL and SSU rRNA gene polymorphism based-studies have revealed that five genotypes (A-E) are distributed throughout different Latin-American countries. Some evidence has shown that the genotypes' biogeographical d...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Salazar-Antón F, Urrea DA, Guhl F, Arévalo C, Azofeifa G, Urbina A, Blandón-Naranjo M, Sousa OE, Zeledón R, Vallejo GA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Phylogeographical and molecular characterization of an emerging Mycobacterium tuberculosis clone in Trinidad and Tobago.Email this article to a colleague.
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We report on a fine molecular and phylogenetical characterization of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated from patients during a one year period in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T). The spoligotyping data coupled to minisatellite typing and available epidemiological data showed that a single major clone of "evolutionary modern" tubercle bacilli (SIT566) was responsible for more than half of the tuberculosis (TB) cases. It preferentially infected younger age groups (mean 39.1 yrs versus 47.7 yrs for other genotypes, p<0.0005), and was overrepresented in Port-of-Spain (1 out of 3 patients). A comparison of...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Millet J, Baboolal S, Akpaka PE, Ramoutar D, Rastogi N Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Geographical widespread of two lineages of Taenia solium due to human migrations: can population genetic analysis strengthen this hypothesis?Email this article to a colleague.
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In this paper we discuss, with a new analysis of published data, the phylogenetic hypothesis of two genotypes of Taenia solium previously suggested. Sequences of mitochondrial (co1, cob, nad) and nuclear (18S+ITS1+5.8S, LMWA1 and LMWA2) Taenia solium DNA from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania deposited in GenBank international databases were analyzed for diversity and genetic structure. Overall, we found that percentages of polymorphic and informative sites were comparatively less in mitochondrial genes, and minimum or null values of nucleotide diversity and nucleotide polymorphism were also observed. Analysis o...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Martinez-Hernandez F, Jimenez-Gonzalez D, Chenillo P, Alonso-Fernandez C, Maravilla P, Flisser A Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Apicortin, a unique protein, with a putative cytoskeletal role, shared only by apicomplexan parasites and the placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens.Email this article to a colleague.
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A new protein, termed apicortin, has been identified, which contains a DCX (doublecortin) and a partial p25-alpha domain. The DCX domains of the doublecortin superfamily are responsible for their microtubule binding and stabilizing properties. The p25-alpha domain occurs in TPPP (Tubulin Polymerization Promoting Protein) proteins exhibiting Microtubule Associated Protein (MAP)-like functions. TPPP orthologs can be classified as long- and short-type ones. The latter ones do not contain the partial p25-alpha domain, which is the most conservative part of the long-type TPPPs and was evolutionary preserved independently fr...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Orosz F Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Divergence and genotyping of human alpha-herpesviruses: an overview.Email this article to a colleague.
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Herpesviruses are large DNA viruses that are highly disseminated among animals. Of the eight herpesviruses identified in humans, three are classified into the alpha-herpesvirus subfamily: herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2), which are typically associated with mucocutaneous lesions, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is the cause of chicken pox and herpes zoster. All three viruses establish lifelong infections and may also induce more severe symptoms, such as neurological manifestations and fatal neonatal infections. Despite thorough investigation of the genetic variability among circulating strains...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 18, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Norberg P Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Multigenic control of resistance to Sendai virus infection in mice.Email this article to a colleague.
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Experimental infection of mice with Sendai virus (SeV) is frequently used as a model of viral pathogenesis of human respiratory disease. To understand the differences in host response to SeV among mice strains, we carried out genetic mapping studies in DBA/2 (D2) (susceptible) and C57BL/6 (B6) (resistant) mice. F(1), F(2), and N(2) backcrossed mice were generated and examined for their disease resistance and susceptibility. For the determination of virulence, percentage body weight loss and survival time were used as phenotypes. We, then, carried out a genome wide scan on 108 backcrossed mice for linkage with percentag...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - September 2, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Simon AY, Moritoh K, Torigoe D, Asano A, Sasaki N, Agui T Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Microsatellite markers characterized in the mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera, Culicidae), a disease vector and major pest on the American coast and the Galápagos Islands.Email this article to a colleague.
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Microsatellite markers characterized in the mosquito Aedes taeniorhynchus (Diptera, Culicidae), a disease vector and major pest on the American coast and the Galápagos Islands.
Infect Genet Evol. 2009 Sep;9(5):971-5
Authors: Bataille A, Horsburgh GJ, Dawson DA, Cunningham AA, Goodman SJ
The black salt-marsh mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, plays an important role in the transmission of arboviruses such as West Nile virus and other pathogens of concern for human and animal health in North and Latin America. This mosquito is notably the only widely distributed mosquito species found in the Galápagos Isla...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - August 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Bataille A, Horsburgh GJ, Dawson DA, Cunningham AA, Goodman SJ Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Penitentiary population of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Kyrgyzstan: Exceptionally high prevalence of the Beijing genotype and its Russia-specific subtype.Email this article to a colleague.
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Here, we present results of the first study of the M. tuberculosis genotypes circulating in Kyrgyzstan. We focused on the incarcerated population known to be at high-risk for tuberculosis (TB) and with a significant impact on TB incidence in the general population. Beijing genotype was detected in 42 of 56M. tuberculosis sputum-extracted DNA samples from newly-diagnosed adult pulmonary TB patients. RIF and INH resistance was genotypically detected in 28% and 55% samples; 13 of 15 MDR strains belonged to Beijing genotype. 12-locus MIRU-VNTR typing showed 8 of 56 samples to be mixed cases; 7 of them contained a Beijing s...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 29, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Mokrousov I, Valcheva V, Sovhozova N, Aldashev A, Rastogi N, Isakova J Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Systems-Based Candidate Genes for Human Response to Influenza Infection.Email this article to a colleague.
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Influenza A is a serious respiratory illness that can be debilitating and may cause complications leading to hospitalization and death. The outcome of infection with the influenza A virus is determined by a complex interplay of viral and host factors. With the ongoing threat of seasonal influenza and the potential emergence of new, more virulent strains of flu viruses, we need to develop a better understanding of genetic variation in the human population and its association with severe outcomes from influenza infection. We propose a list of approximately 100 systems-based candidate genes for future study of the genetic...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 28, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Zhang L, Katz JM, Gwinn M, Dowling NF, Khoury MJ Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Nucleotide sequence polymorphism at the apical membrane antigen-1 locus reveals population history of Plasmodium vivax in Thailand.Email this article to a colleague.
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Apical membrane antigen-1 is a candidate for inclusion in a vaccine for the human malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax. We collected 231 complete sequences of the gene encoding this antigen (pvama-1) from three regions of Thailand, the most extensive collection to date of sequences at this locus. The domain II loop (previously mentioned as a potential vaccine component) was almost completely conserved, with a single amino acid variant (I313R) observed in a single sequence. The 3' portion of the gene (domain II through the stop codon) showed significantly lower nucleotide diversity than the 5' portion (start codon through ...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 26, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Putaporntip C, Jongwutiwes S, Grynberg P, Cui L, Hughes AL Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Comparative phylogeography of Trypanosoma cruzi TCIIc: new hosts, association with terrestrial ecotopes, and spatial clustering.Email this article to a colleague.
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Marcili, A., Lima, L., Valente, V.C.,Valente, S.A., Batista, J.S., Junqueira, A.C.V., Souza, A.I., Rosa, J.A., Campaner, M., Lewis, M.D., Llewellyn, M.S., Miles, M.A., Teixeira, M.M.G. Comparative phylogeography of Trypanosoma cruzi lineage TCIIc: new hosts, association with terrestrial ecotopes, and spatial clustering. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. We characterized 28 new isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi IIc (TCIIc) of mammals and triatomines from Northern to Southern Brazil, confirming the widespread distribution of this lineage. Phylogenetic analyses using cytochrome b and SSU rDNA sequences clearly separated TCII...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 22, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Marcili A, Lima L, Valente VC, Valente SA, Batista JS, Junqueira AC, Souza AI, da Rosa JA, Campaner M, Lewis MD, Llewellyn MS, Miles MA, Teixeira MM Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Andes virus infections in the rodent reservoir and in humans vary across contrasting landscapes in Chile.Email this article to a colleague.
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Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is an emerging infectious disease first reported in Chile in 1995. Andes hantavirus (ANDV) is responsible for the more than 500 cases of HCPS reported in Chile. Previous work showed that ANDV is genetically differentiated in Chile across contrasting landscapes. To determine whether the reservoir rodent (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus) populations are also geographically segregated, we conducted range-wide spatial genetic analyses of O. longicaudatus in Chile using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Given that landscape structure influences the incidence of hantavirus infecti...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 22, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Torres-Pérez F, Palma RE, Hjelle B, Ferres M, Cook JA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
National Rotavirus Surveillance in Argentina: High incidence of G9P[8] strains and detection of G4P[6] strains with porcine characteristics.Email this article to a colleague.
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Group A rotaviruses are the most frequently detected viral agents associated with diarrhea in infants and children worldwide. It has been estimated that every year almost 120,000 cases of diarrhea associated with rotavirus occur in children under 5 years old in Argentina. In this work, we present the rotavirus strain diversity detected during the first two years of the National Surveillance Network for Diarrheas implemented by the Ministry of Health in Argentina. During 2006 and 2007 a total of 464 rotavirus positive samples were G and P genotyped. The predominant genotype combination was G9P[8] (54.1%), followed by G...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 21, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Stupka JA, Carvalho P, Amarilla AA, Massana M, Parra GI, Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
The action of falciparum malaria on the human and chimpanzee genomes compared: Absence of evidence for a genomic signature of malaria at HBB and G6PD in three subspecies of chimpanzee.Email this article to a colleague.
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The historical association between Plasmodium and primates has meant that many Plasmodium species have coevolved with specific primate hosts. However, unlike humans that are infected by species such as P. falciparum that cause severe malaria, many non-human primates are infected by Plasmodium species that only cause mild disease. Here we investigate whether the genomic signatures of plasmodial infection found in humans are also present in chimpanzees. We find no evidence of the major deleterious mutations at HBB (beta-globin) and G6PD in chimpanzees that confer resistance to malaria caused by P. falciparum nor evidence...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 20, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Macfie TS, Nerrienet E, Bontrop RE, Mundy NI Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
Current Understanding of the Genetic Diversity of Brucella, an Expanding Genus of Zoonotic Pathogens.Email this article to a colleague.
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Brucella species are responsible for brucellosis, one of the world's most widespread zoonotic diseases causing abortion in domestic animals and a potentially debilitating infection of man. Despite the identification of a number of distinct species within the genus with differing host preferences and pathogenicity it has been known for many years that members of the genus are genetically homogeneous. However since the start of the millennium the application of new technologies to the group has resulted in rapid advances in the understanding of Brucella diversity and, after many years of inactivity, a process of expansio...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 19, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Whatmore AM Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
DNA repair mechanisms in eukaryotes: special focus in Entamoeba histolytica and related protozoan parasites.Email this article to a colleague.
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Eukaryotic cell viability highly relies on genome stability and DNA integrity maintenance. The cellular response to DNA damage main consists of six biological conserved pathways known as homologous recombination repair (HRR), non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ), base excision repair (BER), mismatch repair (MMR), nucleotide excision repair (NER), and methyltransferase repair that operate in a concerted way to minimize genetic information loss due to a DNA lesion. Particularly, protozoan parasites survival depends on DNA repair mechanisms that constantly supervise chromosomes to correct damaged nucleotides generated by cyt...
Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution - July 6, 2009 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: López-Camarillo C, Lopez-Casamichana M, Weber C, Guillen N, Orozco E, Marchat LA Tags: Infect Genet Evol Source Type: journals
