Trypanosomatids Are Much More than Just Trypanosomes: Clues from the Expanded Family Tree

0498751 - BC 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Lukeš, Julius - Butenko, Anzhelika - Hashimi, Hassan - Maslov, D. A. - Votýpka, Jan - Yurchenko, Vyacheslav
Trypanosomatids Are Much More than Just Trypanosomes: Clues from the Expanded Family Tree.
Trends in Parasitology. Roč. 34, č. 6 (2018), s. 466-480. ISSN 1471-4922. E-ISSN 1471-5007
R&D Projects: GA ČR(CZ) GA16-18699S; GA ČR GA17-24036S; GA MŠMT LL1601; GA MŠMT(CZ) EF16_019/0000759
Institutional support: RVO:60077344
Keywords : diversity * endosymbiosis * phylogeny * trypanosomatids * virus
OECD category: Genetics and heredity (medical genetics to be 3)
Impact factor: 8.020, year: 2018

Trypanosomes and leishmanias are widely known parasites of humans. However, they are just two out of several phylogenetic lineages that constitute the family Trypanosomatidae. Although dixeny – the ability to infect two hosts – is a derived trait of vertebrate-infecting parasites, the majority of trypanosomatids are monoxenous. Like their common ancestor, the monoxenous Trypanosomatidae are mostly parasites or commensals of insects. This review covers recent advances in the study of insect trypanosomatids, highlighting their diversity as well as genetic, morphological and biochemical complexity, which, until recently, was underappreciated. The investigation of insect trypanosomatids is providing an important foundation for understanding the origin and evolution of parasitism, including colonization of vertebrates and the appearance of human pathogens.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0291018