Chitinase from Basal Trypanosomatids and Its Relation to Marine Environment: New Insights on Leishmania Genus Evolutionary Theories

Leishmaniasis, an infectious disease that affects humans, domestic dogs, and wild animals, is caused by 20 of the 53 Leishmania genus species and is transmitted by sandflies. Despite its significant impact, the disease is often neglected. Leishmania genus, belong to Trypanosomatide Family and Kinetoplastida Order, are grouped in five subgroups according to biogeographic and evolution history of parasites and hosts. The GH18 Leishmania chitinase is encoded by a specie-specific single copy gene, conserved in basal groups of trypanosomatids, and is absent in the genus Trypanosoma. Preservation of the chitinase genomic locus in the aquatic free-living protozoan Bodo saltans, discloses a primitive common origin. Trypanosomatid chitinase amino acid sequence comparative analysis revealed high similarity with chitinase from sea living prokaryotes and protozoan microorganisms, indicating a probable marine origin. Amino acid sequence comparative analysis revealed that perhaps the trypanosomatid chitinase derived from a water living Kinetoplastida ancestor and its phylogenetic reconstruction corroborates the Supercontinent Origins theory for Leishmania. The chitinase-encoding gene was effective for differential molecular diagnosis among Leishmania clinical important species worldwide.