Telomerase ribonucleoprotein and genome integrity—An emerging connection in protozoan parasites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin Alexander Davis ◽  
Kausik Chakrabarti
Keyword(s):  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Protozoan Parasites

scholarly journals Evolution of Host Specificity by Malaria Parasites through Altered Mechanisms Controlling Genome Maintenance

mBio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle C. Siao ◽  
Janus Borner ◽  
Susan L. Perkins ◽  
Kirk W. Deitsch ◽  
Laura A. Kirkman
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Malaria Parasites ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ectopic Recombination ◽  
Host Parasite

ABSTRACT The protozoan parasites that cause malaria infect a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, and the evolutionary pressures inherent to the host-parasite relationship have profoundly shaped the genomes of both host and parasite. Here, we report that these selective pressures have resulted in unexpected alterations to one of the most basic aspects of eukaryotic biology, the maintenance of genome integrity through DNA repair. Malaria parasites that infect humans continuously generate genetic diversity within their antigen-encoding gene families through frequent ectopic recombination between gene family members, a process that is a crucial feature of the persistence of malaria globally. The continuous generation of antigen diversity ensures that different parasite isolates are antigenically distinct, thus preventing extensive cross-reactive immunity and enabling parasites to maintain stable transmission within human populations. However, the molecular basis of the recombination between gene family members is not well understood. Through computational analyses of the antigen-encoding, multicopy gene families of different Plasmodium species, we report the unexpected observation that malaria parasites that infect rodents do not display the same degree of antigen diversity as observed in Plasmodium falciparum and appear to undergo significantly less ectopic recombination. Using comparative genomics, we also identify key molecular components of the diversification process, thus shedding new light on how malaria parasites balance the maintenance of genome integrity with the requirement for continuous genetic diversification. IMPORTANCE Malaria remains one of the most prevalent and deadly infectious diseases of the developing world, causing approximately 228 million clinical cases and nearly half a million deaths annually. The disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium, and of the five species capable of infecting humans, infections with P. falciparum are the most severe. In addition to the parasites that infect people, there are hundreds of additional species that infect birds, reptiles, and other mammals, each exquisitely evolved to meet the specific challenges inherent to survival within their respective hosts. By comparing the unique strategies that each species has evolved, key insights into host-parasite interactions can be gained, including discoveries regarding the pathogenesis of human disease. Here, we describe the surprising observation that closely related parasites with different hosts have evolved remarkably different methods for repairing their genomes. This observation has important implications for the ability of parasites to maintain chronic infections and for the development of host immunity.

BRCA2 and Genome Integrity

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Kuo Su
Keyword(s):  
Genome Integrity

Survival of giardia, cryptosporidium, poliovirus and salmonella in marine waters

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 261-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Johnson ◽  
C. E. Enriquez ◽  
I. L. Pepper ◽  
T. L. Davis ◽  
C. P. Gerba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Salmonella Typhimurium ◽  
Cryptosporidium Parvum ◽  
Common Method ◽  
Waterborne Pathogens ◽  
Protozoan Parasites ◽  
Marine Waters ◽  
Untreated Sewage ◽  
Cryptosporidium Parvum Oocysts ◽  
Giardia Muris

Discharge of sewage into the ocean is still a common method of disposal worldwide. Both treated and untreated sewage may contain significant concentrations of waterborne pathogens, such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium, poliovirus and Salmonella. Limited studies exist on the survival of poliovirus and Salmonella in marine waters; however, almost no information exists on the survival of protozoan parasites in marine waters. This study examined the survival of Giardia muris cysts, Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, poliovirus-1 and Salmonella typhimurium in marine waters. The survival of the microorganisms varied according to the presence of light, salinity and water quality (as determined by quantity of enterococci). All microorganisms survived longer in the dark than in sunlight, the order of survival in sunlight being: Cryptosporidium > poliovirus > Giardia > Salmonella.

PCR-based Assay for Genome Integrity after Methyl Methanesulfonate Damage in Physcomitrella patens

BIO-PROTOCOL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Odahara ◽  
Takayuki Inouye ◽  
Yoshiki Nishimura ◽  
Yasuhiko Sekine
Keyword(s):  
Physcomitrella Patens ◽  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Methyl Methanesulfonate

Functional interplay between Parp-1 and SirT1 in genome integrity and chromatin-based processes

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (19) ◽  
pp. 3219-3234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosy El Ramy ◽  
Najat Magroun ◽  
Nadia Messadecq ◽  
Laurent R. Gauthier ◽  
François D. Boussin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Integrity ◽  
Parp 1
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