Large genomic differences between the morphologically indistinguishable diplomonads Spironucleus barkhanus and Spironucleus salmonicida.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Microbial eukaryotes show large variations in genome structure and content between lineages, indicating extensive flexibility over evolutionary timescales. Here we address the tempo and mode of such changes within diplomonads, flagellated protists with two nuclei found in oxygen-poor environments. Approximately 5,000 expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences were generated from the fish commensal Spironucleus barkhanus and compared to sequences from the morphologically indistinguishable fish parasite Spironucleus salmonicida, and other diplomonads. The ESTs were complemented with sequence variation studies in selected genes and genome size determinations.

Results

Many genes detected in S. barkhanus and S. salmonicida are absent in the human parasite Giardia intestina

SUBMITTER: Roxstrom-Lindquist K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2874811 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature