Susan L Perkins1. 1. Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024, USA. perkins@amnh.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The mitochondrial genomes of malaria parasites (Plasmodium and related genera) are extremely small and contain just three protein-coding genes. These short linear genomes are tandemly repeated, allowing for amplification of the entire unit using a single pair of outwardly facing primers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using this approach, I sequenced full mitochondrial genomes for seven new lineages of these parasites belonging to four genera and then, combining these new sequences with other published ones, I examined the phylogenetic utility of each of the three protein-coding genes, alone and when concatenated into a data-set of 3315 nucleotides. RESULTS: Most relationships recovered are consistent with previous studies of the group. CONCLUSION: Support for an Asian origin of Plasmodium vivax and a sister relationship of Plasmodium falciparum to the rodent malaria parasites was observed in this study. However, if a broad understanding of the evolutionary relationships of this group is to truly be understood, it is clear that loci outside the mitochondrial genome should be explored.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The mitochondrial genomes of malaria parasites (Plasmodium and related genera) are extremely small and contain just three protein-coding genes. These short linear genomes are tandemly repeated, allowing for amplification of the entire unit using a single pair of outwardly facing primers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using this approach, I sequenced full mitochondrial genomes for seven new lineages of these parasites belonging to four genera and then, combining these new sequences with other published ones, I examined the phylogenetic utility of each of the three protein-coding genes, alone and when concatenated into a data-set of 3315 nucleotides. RESULTS: Most relationships recovered are consistent with previous studies of the group. CONCLUSION: Support for an Asian origin of Plasmodium vivax and a sister relationship of Plasmodium falciparum to the rodent malaria parasites was observed in this study. However, if a broad understanding of the evolutionary relationships of this group is to truly be understood, it is clear that loci outside the mitochondrial genome should be explored.
Authors: M Andreína Pacheco; Axl S Cepeda; Rasa Bernotienė; Ingrid A Lotta; Nubia E Matta; Gediminas Valkiūnas; Ananias A Escalante Journal: Int J Parasitol Date: 2018-04-03 Impact factor: 3.981
Authors: Solomon Conteh; Charles Anderson; Lynn Lambert; Sachy Orr-Gonzalez; Jessica Herrod; Yvette L Robbins; Dariyen Carter; Stomy Bin Shamamba Karhemere; Pati Pyana; Philippe Büscher; Patrick E Duffy Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2017-01-23 Impact factor: 2.345
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