Molecular Markers for the Phylogenetic Reconstruction of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>: A Quantitative Review

Molecular Markers for the Phylogenetic Reconstruction of <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>: A Quantitative Review

<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> is the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which has a significant amount of genetic diversification among the species complex. Many efforts are routinely made to characterize the genetic lineages of <i>T. cruzi</i> circulating in a particular ge...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: David Ramírez-Delgado, Carlos Alberto Flores-López
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Pathogens
Subjects:
<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> phylogenetics
discrete typing units (DTUs)
phylogenetic resolution
<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> molecular markers
<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> genetic diversity
phylogenetically informative characters
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/1/72
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Summary:<i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> is the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which has a significant amount of genetic diversification among the species complex. Many efforts are routinely made to characterize the genetic lineages of <i>T. cruzi</i> circulating in a particular geographic area. However, the genetic loci used to typify the genetic lineages of <i>T. cruzi</i> have not been consistent between studies. We report a quantitative analysis of the phylogenetic power that is acquired from the commonly used genetic loci that are employed for the typification of <i>T. cruzi</i> into its current taxonomic nomenclature. Based on three quantitative criteria (the number of phylogenetic informative characters, number of available reference sequences in public repositories, and accessibility to DNA sequences for their use as outgroup sequences), we examine and discuss the most appropriate genetic loci for the genetic typification of <i>T. cruzi</i>. Although the mini-exon gene is by far the locus that has been most widely used, it is not the most appropriate marker for the typification of <i>T. cruzi</i> based on the construction of a resolved phylogenetic tree. Overall, the mitochondrial COII-NDI locus stands out as the best molecular marker for this purpose, followed by the Cytochrome b and the Lathosterol oxidase genes.
ISSN:2076-0817

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