Comparative genomics has been used in studying disease in understanding public h

Question

Comparative genomics has been used in studying disease in understanding public health concerns. Conduct an internet search for comparative genomics and one of the following diseases: (a) Foot and Mouth virus, (b) Leishmania, (c) polymicrobial diseases, or (d) one of your choosing not listed here. In your posting, summarize (a) what is the health concern with the disease, (b) how and why were comparative genomics used in the study, and (c) what insights to the disease and public health were learned in the study. Include at least 2 reference citations.

Explanation / Answer

Leishmania:

(a) what is the health concern with the disease: Leishmania is protozoan parasites responsible for causing disease leishmaniasis. It spreads by sandflies bites. The disease can cause three conditions 1. cutaneous causing skin ulcers 2. Mucocutaneous caused ulcers of the skin, mouth, and noseor 3. visceral leishmaniasis starts with skin ulcers followed by fever, low red blood cells, enlarged liver and spleen. More than 20 species of Leishmania are infecting humans only.

(b) how and why were comparative genomics used in the study:

Comparative genomics is a field of biological research, which is used to compare the genomic characteristics or features of different organisms. Genomic characteristics may be gene order, regulatory sequences, DNA sequence and studying any other landmarks of genome. It is used to study the similarity and differences in the different organisms at gene level and study the evolutionary relation. It can be done within or between the species. It has various applications like in the field of agriculture, medical and research etc. For example in agriculture, it is used to get better characteristics in crops like good yield, cost effectiveness, disease resistance, good quality etc.

Here in case of diseases and parasites like Leishmania, comparative genomics have various applications like to get the evolutionary relationship of the parasites and to study its disease characteristics. It will give better understanding of the disease and could come out with better treatment options.

(c) what insights to the disease and public health were learned in the study. Include at least 2 reference citations:

Instead of huge similarity between the Leishmania species with respect to structural organization, there is great variability and differences in species specific genes and mechanisms of infections etc.

References:

1.      Comparative genomic analysis of three Leishmania species that cause diverse human disease (Nature Genetics 39, 839 - 847 (2007))

2.      Comparative genomics: From genotype to disease phenotype in the leishmaniases (International Journal for Parasitology (Volume 37, Issue 11, September 2007, Pages 1173–1186)

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