Quantitative Seq-LGS – a Genome-wide Method for Identifying the Genetic Drivers of Multiple Phenotypes in Malaria Parasites. Quantitative Seq-LGS

Identifying the genetic determinants of phenotypes that impact on disease severity is of fundamental importance for the design of new interventions against malaria. Traditionally, such discovery has relied on labor-intensive approaches that require significant investments of time and resources. By combining Linkage Group Selection (LGS), quantitative whole genome population sequencing and a novel mathematical modeling approach (qSeq-LGS), we simultaneously identified multiple genes underlying two distinct phenotypes; growth rate and strain specific immunity, while removing the need for traditionally required steps such as cloning, individual progeny phenotyping and marker generation. The results highlight the potential of this approach for the identification of genes controlling selectable phenotypes in malaria and other apicomplexan parasites for which experimental genetic crosses are amenable.