Complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial genomes of two avian malaria protozoa, Plasmodium gallinaceum and Plasmodium juxtanucleare.

We analyzed mitochondrial genomes of two avian malaria protozoa, Plasmodium gallinaceum and Plasmodium juxtanucleare. Both mitochondrial genomes were estimated to be 6,002 and 6,014 bp in length, respectively, and to have the identical gene organization and contents to that of other Plasmodium species previously analyzed; three functional genes for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, III, and cytochrome (cyt b), with following sets of discontinuous and scrambled 15 ribosomal subunit RNA (rRNA) genes. Similarities of the three protein-coding genes showed closer relationship within avian malaria protozoa rather than mammalian Plasmodium species. In addition, we showed the tandem repeated structure of each mitochondrial genome of both P. gallinaceum and P. juxtanucleare as well as previously found in mammalian Plasmodium species. This study revealed the complete sequences and structure of the mitochondrial genomes of avian malaria protozoa for the first time.