Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species

Abstract Leishmaniasis is an important public health problem worldwide, with a broad spectrum of clinical and epidemiological features partly associated with the diversity and complex life cycle of the Leishmania parasites. This study analyzes genomic data from 205 Leishmania (Viannia) samples, incl...

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Main Authors: Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia, Maria Paula Rodriguez, Marcela Parra-Muñoz, Ana M. Clavijo, Laura Levy, Clemencia Ovalle-Bracho, Claudia Colorado, Carolina Camargo, Eyson Quiceno, Maria Juliana Moncada, Carlos Muskus, Daniel Alfonso Urrea, Felipe Baez-Aguirre, Silvia Restrepo, María Clara Echeverry, Jorge Duitama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Communications Biology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08331-1
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author Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia
Maria Paula Rodriguez
Marcela Parra-Muñoz
Ana M. Clavijo
Laura Levy
Clemencia Ovalle-Bracho
Claudia Colorado
Carolina Camargo
Eyson Quiceno
Maria Juliana Moncada
Carlos Muskus
Daniel Alfonso Urrea
Felipe Baez-Aguirre
Silvia Restrepo
María Clara Echeverry
Jorge Duitama
author_facet Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia
Maria Paula Rodriguez
Marcela Parra-Muñoz
Ana M. Clavijo
Laura Levy
Clemencia Ovalle-Bracho
Claudia Colorado
Carolina Camargo
Eyson Quiceno
Maria Juliana Moncada
Carlos Muskus
Daniel Alfonso Urrea
Felipe Baez-Aguirre
Silvia Restrepo
María Clara Echeverry
Jorge Duitama
author_sort Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Leishmaniasis is an important public health problem worldwide, with a broad spectrum of clinical and epidemiological features partly associated with the diversity and complex life cycle of the Leishmania parasites. This study analyzes genomic data from 205 Leishmania (Viannia) samples, including 65 newly sequenced clinical isolates. It also provides chromosome-level genome assemblies for 10 isolates representing different species and populations. The observed distribution of Leishmania genomic diversity across the sampling locations suggests rapid adaptation to different ecosystems. The phylogenomic analysis provides new hypotheses challenging the current delimitation of species. Pangenomic analysis of high-quality assemblies shows consistent copy number variation between species for different gene families. Larger and more diverse amastin gene families were observed in the assembled genomes compared to previous reports based on the analysis of short-read data. This work provides genomic resources and helpful information regarding central problems in the biology of Leishmania spp, including species diversification, transmission dynamics, and the evolution of virulence mechanisms.
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spelling doaj-art-392248109ac2486fb9b8fb4f7dc7c9822025-08-20T02:07:45ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-06-018111410.1038/s42003-025-08331-1Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) speciesLaura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia0Maria Paula Rodriguez1Marcela Parra-Muñoz2Ana M. Clavijo3Laura Levy4Clemencia Ovalle-Bracho5Claudia Colorado6Carolina Camargo7Eyson Quiceno8Maria Juliana Moncada9Carlos Muskus10Daniel Alfonso Urrea11Felipe Baez-Aguirre12Silvia Restrepo13María Clara Echeverry14Jorge Duitama15Systems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de los AndesSystems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de los AndesDepartamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Sede BogotáDepartamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Sede BogotáSystems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de los AndesHospital Universitario Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta E.S.EHospital Universitario Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta E.S.EHospital Universitario Centro Dermatológico Federico Lleras Acosta E.S.EPrograma de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales-PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de AntioquiaPrograma de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales-PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de AntioquiaPrograma de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales-PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de AntioquiaLaboratorio de Investigaciones en Parasitología Tropical (LIPT), Universidad del TolimaApplied Genomics Research Group, Vicerrectoría de Investigación y Creación, Universidad de los AndesUniversidad de los AndesDepartamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia – Sede BogotáSystems and Computing Engineering Department, Universidad de los AndesAbstract Leishmaniasis is an important public health problem worldwide, with a broad spectrum of clinical and epidemiological features partly associated with the diversity and complex life cycle of the Leishmania parasites. This study analyzes genomic data from 205 Leishmania (Viannia) samples, including 65 newly sequenced clinical isolates. It also provides chromosome-level genome assemblies for 10 isolates representing different species and populations. The observed distribution of Leishmania genomic diversity across the sampling locations suggests rapid adaptation to different ecosystems. The phylogenomic analysis provides new hypotheses challenging the current delimitation of species. Pangenomic analysis of high-quality assemblies shows consistent copy number variation between species for different gene families. Larger and more diverse amastin gene families were observed in the assembled genomes compared to previous reports based on the analysis of short-read data. This work provides genomic resources and helpful information regarding central problems in the biology of Leishmania spp, including species diversification, transmission dynamics, and the evolution of virulence mechanisms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08331-1
spellingShingle Laura Natalia Gonzalez-Garcia
Maria Paula Rodriguez
Marcela Parra-Muñoz
Ana M. Clavijo
Laura Levy
Clemencia Ovalle-Bracho
Claudia Colorado
Carolina Camargo
Eyson Quiceno
Maria Juliana Moncada
Carlos Muskus
Daniel Alfonso Urrea
Felipe Baez-Aguirre
Silvia Restrepo
María Clara Echeverry
Jorge Duitama
Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
Communications Biology
title Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
title_full Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
title_fullStr Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
title_full_unstemmed Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
title_short Genetic diversity and comparative genomics across Leishmania (Viannia) species
title_sort genetic diversity and comparative genomics across leishmania viannia species
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08331-1
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