Understanding the contribution of parasite genotype to Leishmaniasis outcomes

Leishmaniasis is an important disease caused by protozoan parasites that are transmitted by infected sand fly bites in tropical and subtropical regions.  Depending on the strain of Leishmania, disease forms in humans range from localized, self-limiting cutaneous lesions to visceralizing infections that are fatal in the absence of treatment.   The specific contribution of parasite genotype to disease outcome remains largely unknown. Taking advantage of a recently revealed sexual cycle that occurs during Leishmania development in the insect vector, our goal is to generate a series of hybrids between cutaneous and visceral strains that will be phenotyped in mouse models of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.  Each hybrid will be subjected to whole genome DNA and RNA-sequencing to follow parental allele, structural variation, including chromosome somy, gene expression, and epigenetic differences that associate with disease outcome.  Experimental approaches will involve genetic manipulation of the parasite, DNA and RNAseq analysis, single cell genomics, and the application of various computational/bioinformatics methods developed to facilitate QTL and GWAS studies that identify linkage between genes and phenotypes.