Barcoding in trypanosomes

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 145; no. 5; pp. 563 - 573
• Main Authors: HUTCHINSON, RACHEL, STEVENS, JAMIE R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2018
• Subjects: African trypanosomiasis; Animals; Biodiversity; Chagas disease; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Disease; DNA; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic - methods; Ecology; Genetic Markers; Identification; Identification methods; Laboratories; Livestock; Mammals; Methods; Molecular chains; Parasites; Parasitology; Phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; rRNA 18S; Special Issue Review; Surveillance; Trends; Tropical diseases; Trypanosoma - classification; Trypanosoma - genetics; Trypanosome; Vector-borne diseases; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Africa; molecular methods; Trypanosomatidae; Trypanosoma; 18S rRNA; cytochrome oxidase I; Chagas disease; sleeping sickness
• ISSN: 0031-1820; 1469-8161
• DOI: 10.1017/S0031182017002049

Trypanosomes (genus Trypanosoma) are parasites of humans, and wild and domestic mammals, in which they cause several economically and socially important diseases, including sleeping sickness in Africa and Chagas disease in the Americas. Despite the development of numerous molecular diagnostics and increasing awareness of the importance of these neglected parasites, there is currently no universal genetic barcoding marker available for trypanosomes. In this review we provide an overview of the methods used for trypanosome detection and identification, discuss the potential application of different barcoding techniques and examine the requirements of the ‘ideal’ trypanosome genetic barcode. In addition, we explore potential alternative genetic markers for barcoding Trypanosoma species, including an analysis of phylogenetically informative nucleotide changes along the length of the 18S rRNA gene.