Abstract
It is well established that genetic exchange occurs between Trypanosoma brucei parasites when two stocks are used to infect tsetse flies under laboratory conditions and a number of such crosses have been undertaken [1,2]. Both cross and self-fertilisation can take place [3,4], with the products of mating being the equivalent of F1 progeny in a Mendelian system [2,3]. Recently, analysis of a large collection of independent progeny using a series of polymorphic micro and minisatellite markers, has formally demonstrated that the allelic segregation at loci on each of the 11-megabase chromosomes conforms to ratios predicted for a classical diploid genetic system involving meiosis as well as independent assortment of markers on different chromosomes [5]. Further extensive analysis of these F1 progeny, using a large panel of micro and minisatellite markers, has led to the construction of a genetic map of one parasite stock [6].
Highlights
Analysis of a large collection of independent progeny using a series of polymorphic micro and minisatellite markers, has formally demonstrated that the allelic segregation at loci on each of the 11-megabase chromosomes conforms to ratios predicted for a classical diploid genetic system involving meiosis as well as independent assortment of markers on different chromosomes [5]
Gibson et al [9], using parental stocks tagged with selectable markers, provided evidence that mating does not occur between procyclic stage trypanosomes in the mid-gut of the tsetse fly, in contrast to a previous report [10]
The available evidence is consistent with mating taking place at one of three possible life cycle stages in the tsetse fly: (1) between metacyclic forms, (2) between epimastigotes, or (3) at a pre-epimastigote stage post the procyclic stage in the mid-gut
Summary
Gibson et al [9], using parental stocks tagged with selectable markers, provided evidence that mating does not occur between procyclic stage trypanosomes in the mid-gut of the tsetse fly, in contrast to a previous report [10]. To test the possibility that mating occurs between metacyclic stage trypanosomes, we genotyped a series of progeny clones derived from single metacyclic stage trypanosomes taken from tsetse flies infected with mating mixtures of two pairs of parental stocks (TREU 927 x STIB 247 or STIB 386 x STIB 247).
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