Adaptive mechanisms in pathogens: universal aneuploidy in Leishmania
Mannaert, An, Downing, Tim, Imamura, Hideo and Dujardin, Jean-Claude
(2012)
Adaptive mechanisms in pathogens: universal aneuploidy in Leishmania.
Trends in Parasitology, 28
(9).
pp. 370-376.
ISSN 1471-4922
Genomic stability and maintenance of the correct chromosome number are assumed to be essential for normal development in eukaryotes. Aneuploidy is usually associated with severe abnormalities and decrease of cell fitness, but some organisms appear to rely on aneuploidy for rapid adaptation to changing environments. This
phenomenon is mostly described in pathogenic fungi and cancer cells. However, recent genome studies highlight the importance of Leishmania as a new model for studies on aneuploidy. Several reports revealed extensive variation in chromosome copy number, indicating that aneuploidy is a constitutive feature of this protozoan parasite genus. Aneuploidy appears to be beneficial in organisms that are primarily asexual, unicellular, and that undergo sporadic epidemic expansions, including common pathogens as well as cancer.
Metadata
Item Type:
Article (Published)
Refereed:
Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:
Aneuploidy (experimental and natural); Leishmania; Genome instability; Fitness; Population genetics; Recombination; Clonality