An AFLP-based genetic linkage map of Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi.
BACKGROUND
Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi can be considered as a rodent model of human malaria parasites in the genetic analysis of important characters such as drug resistance and immunity. Despite the availability of some genome sequence data, an extensive genetic linkage map is needed for mapping the genes involved in certain traits.


METHODS
The inheritance of 672 Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers from two parental clones (AS and AJ) of P. c. chabaudi was determined in 28 independent recombinant progeny clones. These, AFLP markers and 42 previously mapped Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) markers (used as chromosomal anchors) were organized into linkage groups using Map Manager software.


RESULTS
614 AFLP markers formed linkage groups assigned to 10 of 14 chromosomes, and 12 other linkage groups not assigned to known chromosomes. The genetic length of the genome was estimated to be about 1676 centiMorgans (cM). The mean map unit size was estimated to be 13.7 kb/cM. This was slightly less then previous estimates for the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum


CONCLUSIONS
The P. c. chabaudi genetic linkage map presented here is the most extensive and highly resolved so far available for this species. It can be used in conjunction with the genome databases of P. c chabaudi, P. falciparum and Plasmodium yoelii to identify genes underlying important phenotypes such as drug resistance and strain-specific immunity.
Martinelli
Axel
A
Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Science, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, UK. axel.martinelli@ed.ac.uk
Hunt
Paul
P
Fawcett
Richard
R
Cravo
Pedro V L
PV
Walliker
David
D
Carter
Richard
R
D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002738:Chloroquine; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D008288:Malaria / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016788:Plasmodium chabaudi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods
D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D005819:Genetic Markers; D002738:Chloroquine