DNA Content Analysis on Microarrays

The genome sequencing of protozoan parasites has facilitated the development of powerful postgenomics tools such as DNA microarrays and revolutionized the study of parasite biology. Large-scale genomic comparisons are useful in identifying the extent of genomic variability among related strains and isolates. Identification of deletions between geographically diverse clinical isolates is important in understanding parasite biology and the “fitness” of a given strain in dissemination. Additionally, the development of reliable diagnostic tests or identification of potential vaccine candidates is predicated on the large-scale conservation of the candidate genes. Parasites with variable virulence phenotypes (vaccine strain vs virulent strain) can also be studied for their genomic variability and provide further insights into the potential role of genotypic variability and its relationship to virulence. This chapter outlines the utilization of DNA microarrays to study genomic content.