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An Improved Approach to Trypanosoma cruzi Molecular Genotyping by Next-Generation Sequencing of the Mini-exon Gene

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T. cruzi Infection

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1955))

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is a protozoan parasite usually transmitted by triatomines. As the parasite can infect all mammals and the vectors can be found across a broad range of ecologies, transmission cycles are quite complex, and extensive genetic diversity exists within the parasite population. Seven main evolutionary lineages, named “discrete typing units,” have been described, but a large amount of intra-lineage heterogeneity is also observed. To date, typing methods used to elucidate both inter-lineage and intra-lineage diversity have faced limitations, with some approaches unable to determine all levels of diversity and others requiring investigation of numerous markers and often the selective process of isolation of live parasites. Here, we present a method for parasite genotyping using next-generation sequencing of the mini-exon gene marker, to assign lineage and describe intra-lineage diversity directly from biological samples. This approach is sensitive enough to detect the presence of multiclonal infections and low-frequency parasite genotypes within this context, providing an unprecedented description of T. cruzi assemblages in hosts and vectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Tropical Medicine, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Alicia Majeau, Claudia Herrera & Eric Dumonteil

  2. Vector-Borne and Infectious Disease Research Center, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Alicia Majeau, Claudia Herrera & Eric Dumonteil

Authors
  1. Alicia Majeau
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  2. Claudia Herrera
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  3. Eric Dumonteil
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Dumonteil .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. INGEBI-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Karina Andrea Gómez

  2. UNSAM-CONICET, IIB-INTECH, San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Carlos Andrés Buscaglia

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Majeau, A., Herrera, C., Dumonteil, E. (2019). An Improved Approach to Trypanosoma cruzi Molecular Genotyping by Next-Generation Sequencing of the Mini-exon Gene. In: Gómez, K., Buscaglia, C. (eds) T. cruzi Infection. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1955. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9148-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-9147-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-9148-8

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