Genome Leishmania
GC-content
| Species | Average GC-Content | Reference Strain Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Leishmania infantum | 59.5% | JPCM5 (Reference), MCER/BR/1981 (56.9%–59.3%) |
| Leishmania donovani | 59.5% | BPK282A1 (Reference), HU3 |
- Genome Synteny: These two species exhibit a high degree of synteny (shared gene order) and sequence identity (often >99%), which explains why their overall GC-content is nearly identical.
- Chromosomal Variation: While the whole-genome average is ~59.5%, individual chromosomes can vary slightly. For instance, in L. donovani, Chromosome 19 has a GC-content of 59.5%, while Chromosome 21 is slightly higher at 60.5%.
- Strand Switch Regions (SSRs): In both species, the coding regions are organized into large polycistronic transcription units. The regions between these units, known as strand switch regions, are typically AT-rich compared to the rest of the genome, serving as sites for transcription initiation and termination.
- Isolate Variability: Slight variations (e.g., 59.3% vs. 59.5%) are often observed depending on the specific isolate, the sequencing technology used (Illumina vs. PacBio), and the assembly quality.