Abstract
Modern sequencing technologies have facilitated comparative parasite genomics, providing insight into the genetic mechanisms responsible for invasion and pathogenicity. Representatives of three distinct Giardia assemblages have been fully sequenced, the most complete being the human isolate WBC6. Comparison of the three genomes (WB, GS, and P15) is under active study in many laboratories. Why high allelic sequence heterozygosity exists in Assemblage B isolates is an intriguing and as yet unsolved question. There is otherwise much similarity between the genomes. The vast majority of genes are homologous in all the three, with only a handful specific to any single genome. This finding elevates many hypothetical open reading frames to true genes. Future Giardia genomics will benefit from draft genomic coverage of more isolates, high-throughput transcriptomics, and refinement of the reference WB assembly.
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Morrison, H.G., Svärd, S. (2011). Genomics of Giardia . In: Luján, H.D., Svärd, S. (eds) Giardia. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0198-8_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0198-8_5
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