Molecular phylogenetic analysis in Hammondia-like organisms based on partial Hsp70 coding sequences

Authors: MONTEIRO, R - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; RICHTZENHAIN, L - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; PENA S, L - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; SOUZA, S - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; FUNADA, M - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; GENNARI, S - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; Dubey, Jitender; SREEKUMAR, C - USDA,ARS,ANRI,APDL; KEID, L - SAO PAULO BRAZIL; SOARES, R - SAO PAULO BRAZIL

Submitted to: Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2007
Publication Date: 8/1/2007
Citation: Monteiro, R.M., Richtzenhain, L.J., Pena S, L.P., Souza, S.L., Funada, M.R., Gennari, S.M., Dubey, J.P., Sreekumar, C., Keid, L.B., Soares, R.M. 2007. Molecular phylogenetic analysis in Hammondia-like organisms based on partial Hsp70 coding sequences. Parasitology. 134:1195-1203.

Interpretive Summary: The 70-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) sequences are considered one of the most conserved proteins in all domain of life from Archaea to eukaryotes. Hammondia heydorni, H. hammondi, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora hughesi and N. caninum (Hammondia-like organisms) are closely related tissue cyst-forming coccidians that belong to the sub-family Toxoplasmatinae. The phylogenetic reconstruction using cytoplasmic Hsp70 coding genes of Hammondia-like organisms revealed the genetic sequences of T. gondii, Neospora spp. and H. heydorni to possess similar level of evolutionary distance. In addition, at least two distinct genetic groups could be recognized among the H. heydorni isolates. Such results are in agreement with those obtained with internal transcribed spacer-1 rDNA (ITS-1) sequences. In order to compare the nucleotide diversity among different taxonomic levels within Apicomplexa, Hsp70 coding sequences of the following apicomplexan organisms were included in this study: Cryptosporidium, Theileria, Babesia, Plasmodium and Cyclospora. Such analysis revealed the Hammondia-like organism as the lowest divergent group when compared to other groups within the phylum Apicomplexa. In conclusion, the Hsp70 coding sequences proved to be a valuable genetic marker for phylogenetic reconstruction and may constitute a good candidate to be used with other genes for species phylogeny within this group of organisms.

Technical Abstract: The 70-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) sequences are considered one of the most conserved proteins in all domain of life from Archaea to eukaryotes. Hammondia heydorni, H. hammondi, Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora hughesi and N. caninum (Hammondia-like organisms) are closely related tissue cyst-forming coccidians that belong to the sub-family Toxoplasmatinae. The phylogenetic reconstruction using cytoplasmic Hsp70 coding genes of Hammondia-like organisms revealed the genetic sequences of T. gondii, Neospora spp. and H. heydorni to possess similar level of evolutionary distance. In addition, at least two distinct genetic groups could be recognized among the H. heydorni isolates. Such results are in agreement with those obtained with internal transcribed spacer-1 rDNA (ITS-1) sequences. In order to compare the nucleotide diversity among different taxonomic levels within Apicomplexa, Hsp70 coding sequences of the following apicomplexan organisms were included in this study: Cryptosporidium, Theileria, Babesia, Plasmodium and Cyclospora. Such analysis revealed the Hammondia-like organism as the lowest divergent group when compared to other groups within the phylum Apicomplexa. In conclusion, the Hsp70 coding sequences proved to be a valuable genetic marker for phylogenetic reconstruction and may constitute a good candidate to be used with other genes for species phylogeny within this group of organisms