title: Difference in DNA sequences in SSU rDNA variable regions among pathogens isolated from different epidemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis in China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm the existence of point mutations in the SSU rDNA variable regions of 5 Leishmania donovani (L.d.) isolates from different epidemic foci in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specific SSU rDNA fragments from nuclear DNA of 7 Leishmania species/isolates were amplified by PCR and then cloned into pGEM(R)-T Easy Vectors. After that, the specific fragments were sequenced by an automated DNA sequencer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sequence analysis showed that the amplified DNA fragments of 7 Leishmania species/isolates were all 392 bp in length. All 5 point mutations were located in two unique sequence blocks (UQ-I and UQ-II), and no insertions or deletions were found. The identities of comparison of Leishmania in GeneBank were more than 98%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Five point mutations exist in the SSU rDNA variable region of 5 L.d. isolates from different epidemic foci of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in China. Sequence differences of the SSU rDNA variable region exist among L.d. isolates from different foci.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. huxiaosu@elong.com.cn
authors.forename: Xiaosu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Lingyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yajing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Baoqian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Taolin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000235:genetics*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal