Some molecular insights into schistosome evolution
Some molecular insights into schistosome evolution
Robust phylogenies based on molecular data for species within the genus Schistosoma have been generated in recent years. The considerable progress made in understanding the relationships between many of the 19 recognised species of Schistosoma is reviewed with particular attention being given to the detection and analysis of parasite variation as shown by studies on ribosomal RNA genes, mitochondrial DNA and RAPDs. For the most part, molecular phylogenies agree with observations based on morphological or life-history characteristics. It is clear that the parasites of man do not form a monophyletic group and that close relationships exist between parasites within species groups, especially in the S. haematobium group of species. The S. japonicum group appears to be the most divergent of the species groups and yet little DNA sequence variation has been observed between various isolates of S: japonicum. Some of the less studied schistosomes have yet to be examined at the molecular level and may prove to be interesting links between the species groups as has recently been shown with S. hippopotami. The power of molecular approaches for the analysis of schistosomes at the population and individual level is now apparent, especially for S. mansoni. Important questions remain concerning the maintenance of parasite diversity and how schistosomes respond to selection pressures imposed either during natural progression through the life-cycle or through drug treatment or vaccination. Gene discovery and gene mapping projects are leading to a better understanding of the schistosome genome and can be expected to contribute significantly to future comparative evolutionary studies.
Animals, Antigenic Variation, Antigens, Helminth/genetics, Biological Evolution, Chromosome Mapping, DNA, Helminth/genetics, DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics, DNA, Ribosomal/genetics, Female, Genes, Helminth, Genetic Variation, Genome, Humans, Male, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Helminth/genetics, Schistosoma/classification, Schistosomiasis/immunology
11-28
Rollinson, David
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Kaukas, A
e133d717-ed9a-4ad1-935a-bd364dfb849f
Johnston, D A
b41163c9-b9d2-425c-af99-2a357204014e
Simpson, A J
d66c74cd-b160-4731-bd61-ca8c1118b72d
Tanaka, M
42a9c699-60c8-4542-b272-c34ea0643a25
2 January 1997
Rollinson, David
917d0e09-176f-4058-89ff-ec2ad3a496ad
Kaukas, A
e133d717-ed9a-4ad1-935a-bd364dfb849f
Johnston, D A
b41163c9-b9d2-425c-af99-2a357204014e
Simpson, A J
d66c74cd-b160-4731-bd61-ca8c1118b72d
Tanaka, M
42a9c699-60c8-4542-b272-c34ea0643a25
Rollinson, David, Kaukas, A, Johnston, D A, Simpson, A J and Tanaka, M
(1997)
Some molecular insights into schistosome evolution.
International Journal for Parasitology, 27 (1), .
(doi:10.1016/s0020-7519(96)00169-5).
Abstract
Robust phylogenies based on molecular data for species within the genus Schistosoma have been generated in recent years. The considerable progress made in understanding the relationships between many of the 19 recognised species of Schistosoma is reviewed with particular attention being given to the detection and analysis of parasite variation as shown by studies on ribosomal RNA genes, mitochondrial DNA and RAPDs. For the most part, molecular phylogenies agree with observations based on morphological or life-history characteristics. It is clear that the parasites of man do not form a monophyletic group and that close relationships exist between parasites within species groups, especially in the S. haematobium group of species. The S. japonicum group appears to be the most divergent of the species groups and yet little DNA sequence variation has been observed between various isolates of S: japonicum. Some of the less studied schistosomes have yet to be examined at the molecular level and may prove to be interesting links between the species groups as has recently been shown with S. hippopotami. The power of molecular approaches for the analysis of schistosomes at the population and individual level is now apparent, especially for S. mansoni. Important questions remain concerning the maintenance of parasite diversity and how schistosomes respond to selection pressures imposed either during natural progression through the life-cycle or through drug treatment or vaccination. Gene discovery and gene mapping projects are leading to a better understanding of the schistosome genome and can be expected to contribute significantly to future comparative evolutionary studies.
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Published date: 2 January 1997
Keywords:
Animals, Antigenic Variation, Antigens, Helminth/genetics, Biological Evolution, Chromosome Mapping, DNA, Helminth/genetics, DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics, DNA, Ribosomal/genetics, Female, Genes, Helminth, Genetic Variation, Genome, Humans, Male, Phylogeny, Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Helminth/genetics, Schistosoma/classification, Schistosomiasis/immunology
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 468949
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/468949
ISSN: 0020-7519
PURE UUID: 34b02255-c12b-4720-89ca-f2a893a92b5a
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Date deposited: 01 Sep 2022 17:06
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:11
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Author:
David Rollinson
Author:
A Kaukas
Author:
D A Johnston
Author:
A J Simpson
Author:
M Tanaka
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