Genetic variability in Babesia microti, the causative agent of human babesiosis, an emerging infectious disease in the United States

Babesia microti, an intracellular protozoan parasite, is the primary cause of human babesiosis, and the most commonly reported transfusion-transmitted pathogen in the United States. A comprehensive analysis of genome composition and genetic diversity was performed after resequencing the R1 reference genome and sequencing of new isolate Bm1438 using NGS technologies. Few differences were observed after resequencing. Mutations between R1 and Bm1438 were accumulated all along the genome, few affecting protein function including two DNA repair enzymes.