Genetic Diversity of Cryptosporidium hominis in a Bangladeshi Community as Revealed by Whole-Genome Sequencing

CA Gilchrist, JA Cotton, C Burkey, T Arju… - The Journal of …, 2018 - academic.oup.com
CA Gilchrist, JA Cotton, C Burkey, T Arju, A Gilmartin, Y Lin, E Ahmed, K Steiner, M Alam
The Journal of infectious diseases, 2018academic.oup.com
We studied the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium hominis infections in slum-dwelling
infants from Dhaka over a 2-year period. Cryptosporidium hominis infections were common
during the monsoon, and were genetically diverse as measured by gp60 genotyping and
whole-genome resequencing. Recombination in the parasite was evidenced by the decay of
linkage disequilibrium in the genome over< 300 bp. Regions of the genome with high levels
of polymorphism were also identified. Yet to be determined is if genomic diversity is …
Abstract
We studied the genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium hominis infections in slum-dwelling infants from Dhaka over a 2-year period. Cryptosporidium hominis infections were common during the monsoon, and were genetically diverse as measured by gp60 genotyping and whole-genome resequencing. Recombination in the parasite was evidenced by the decay of linkage disequilibrium in the genome over <300 bp. Regions of the genome with high levels of polymorphism were also identified. Yet to be determined is if genomic diversity is responsible in part for the high rate of reinfection, seasonality, and varied clinical presentations of cryptosporidiosis in this population.
Oxford University Press