The genome sequence of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis: functional annotation and extended analysis of gene models

• Published in: DNA research Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 567 - 581
• Main Authors: Real, Fernando, Vidal, Ramon Oliveira, Carazzolle, Marcelo Falsarella, Mondego, Jorge Maurício Costa, Costa, Gustavo Gilson Lacerda, Herai, Roberto Hirochi, Würtele, Martin, de Carvalho, Lucas Miguel, Carmona e Ferreira, Renata, Mortara, Renato Arruda, Barbiéri, Clara Lucia, Mieczkowski, Piotr, da Silveira, José Franco, Briones, Marcelo Ribeiro da Silva, Pereira, Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães, Bahia, Diana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press (OUP) 01.12.2013; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Genome, Protozoan; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Leishmania - genetics; Leishmania - metabolism; Leishmania amazonensis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - parasitology; Life Sciences; Models, Genetic; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; genome; amastin; heat-shock protein; interactome; Leishmania amazonensis
• ISSN: 1340-2838; 1756-1663
• DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dst031

We present the sequencing and annotation of the Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis genome, an etiological agent of human cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Amazon region of Brazil. L. (L.) amazonensis shares features with Leishmania (L.) mexicana but also exhibits unique characteristics regarding geographical distribution and clinical manifestations of cutaneous lesions (e.g. borderline disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis). Predicted genes were scored for orthologous gene families and conserved domains in comparison with other human pathogenic Leishmania spp. Carboxypeptidase, aminotransferase, and 3'-nucleotidase genes and ATPase, thioredoxin, and chaperone-related domains were represented more abundantly in L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) mexicana species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that these two species share groups of amastin surface proteins unique to the genus that could be related to specific features of disease outcomes and host cell interactions. Additionally, we describe a hypothetical hybrid interactome of potentially secreted L. (L.) amazonensis proteins and host proteins under the assumption that parasite factors mimic their mammalian counterparts. The model predicts an interaction between an L. (L.) amazonensis heat-shock protein and mammalian Toll-like receptor 9, which is implicated in important immune responses such as cytokine and nitric oxide production. The analysis presented here represents valuable information for future studies of leishmaniasis pathogenicity and treatment.