Reticulate Evolution in Trypanosoma Cruzi: Medical and Epidemiological Implications

Abstract:

As far as applied research is concerned, it is hoped that T. cruzi's genetic variability is far from having revealed all its secrets and will continue to make great contributions to the survey, control, and cure of Chagas disease. This chapter refers to the evolutionary pattern in which discrete genetic lines undergo preponderant separate evolution, partly countered by occasional bouts of hybridization events. This situation is reached in many higher plants. It appears to be the best way to summarize the evolutionary strategy of Trypanosoma cruzi. This is unexpected, since the community of scientists working on Chagas disease is very limited by comparison with those working on AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Nevertheless, it can be said that T. cruzi is by far the pathogenic microorganism that population genetics knows the best and can compete in this domain with the bacterium Escherichia coli. Inspite of the obstacle that it is a pathogenic agent, it is hoped now to "sell". T. cruzi as a pet model for basic evolutionary research, together with E. coli, Drosophila melanogaster, Mus musculus, and Caenorhabditis elegans. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Año de publicación:

2010

Keywords:

Fuente:

scopus