Abstract
A pair of degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers (LEI-1, TCG GAT CC[C,T] [G,C]TG GGT AGG GGC GT; LEI-2, ACG GAT CC[G,C] [G,C][A,C]C TAT [A,T]TT ACA CC) defining a 0.15-kb segment ofLeishmania minicircle DNA was constructed. These primers amplified not only inter- but also intraspecifically polymorphic sequences. Individual sequences revealed a higher intraspecific than interspecific divergence. It is concluded that individual sequences are of limited relevance for species determination. In contrast, when a data base of 19 different sequences was analyzed in a dendrographic plot, an accurate species differentiation was feasible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barker DC, Gibson LJ, Kennedy WPK, Nasser AAAA, Williams RH (1986) The potential of using recombinant DNA species-specific probes for the identification of tropicalLeishmania. Parasitology 91:S139-S174
Blackwell JM (1992) Leishmaniasis epidemiology: all down to the DNA. Parasitology 104:S19-S34
Bruijn MHL de, Barker DC (1992) Diagnosis of New World leishmaniasis: specific detection of species of theLeishmania braziliensis complex by amplification of kinetoplast DNA. Acta Trop (Basel) 52:45–58
Higgins DG, Sharp PM (1988) CLUSTAL: a package for performing multiple sequence alignment on a microcomputer. Gene 73:237–244
Kidane GZ, Hughes D, Simpson L (1984) Sequence heterogeneity and anomalous electrophoretic mobility of kinetoplast minicircle DNA fromLeishmania tarentolae. Gene 27: 265–277
Kreutzer RD, Grogl M, Neva FA, Fryauff DJ, Magill AJ, Aleman-Munoz MM (1993) Identification and genetic comparison of leishmanial parasites causing viscerotropic and cutaneous disease in soldiers returning from operation Desert Storm. Am J Trop Med Hyg 49:357–363
Laskay T, Kiessling R, Rinke DeWit TF, Wirth DF (1991) Generation of species-specific DNA probes forLeishmania aethiopica. Mol Biochem Parasitol 44:279–286
Lee S, Tarn C, Chang K (1993) Characterization of the switch of kinetoplast DNA minicircle dominance during development and reversion of drug resistance inLeishmania. Mol Biochem Parasitol 58:187–204
Magill AJ, Grögl M, Gasser RA, Sun W, Oster CN (1993) Visceral infection caused byLeishmania tropica in veterans of operation Desert Storm. N Engl J Med 328:1383–1387
Rogers WO, Wirth DF (1988) Generation of sequence diversity in the kinetoplast DNA minicircles ofLeishmania mexicana amazonensis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 30:1–8
Sanger F, Nicklen S, Coulson AR (1977) DNA sequencing with chain-terminating inhibitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 74: 5463–5467
Smith DF, Searle S, Ready PD, Gramiccia M, Ben-Ismail R (1989) A kinetoplast DNA probe diagnostic forLeishmania major: sequence homologies between regions ofLeishmania minicircles. Mol Biochem Parasitol 37:213–224
Sommer R, Tautz D (1989) Minimal homology requirements for PCR primers. Nucl Acids Res 17:6749
Stuart K (1983) Kinetoplast DNA, mitochondrial DNA with a difference. Mol Biochem Parasitol 9:93–104
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dobner, P., Löscher, T. & Rinder, H. Intra- and interspecific polymorphisms ofLeishmania donovani andL. tropica minicircle DNA. Parasitol Res 80, 474–477 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932693
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932693