Comparative genomics of Leishmania (Mundinia)

Leishmania (Mundinia) spp. are of special interest for, at least, four reasons. Firstly, in this group, human pathogens – L. (M.) orientalis, L. (M.) martiniquensis and parasites from Ghana – are intermingled with non-pathogenic to humans L. (M.) enriettii and L. (M.) macropodum. Secondly, a significant portion of human patients infected with Leishmania (Mundinia) are immunocompromised, raising an intriguing possibility that these parasites may actively explore new developmental niches. Thirdly, Mundinia appear to be transmitted primarily not by the sand flies as other leishmanias, but by the biting midges. Finally, in all phylogenetic reconstructions, L. (Mundinia) occupies the basal position to other members of the genus Leishmania, suggesting its ancient origin. In this work, we sequenced and analyzed genomes of three Leishmania (Mundinia) species, which represent the major clades of the subgenus: L. (M.) enriettii MCAV/BR/45/LV90, L. (M.) macropodum MMAC/AU/2004/AM-2004, and L. (M.) martiniquensis MHOM/MQ/92/MAR1. Other available in culture isolates of Mundinia are phylogenetically associated with these three species.