The past few years have seen significant advances in our understanding
of eukaryotic genomes. In the field of parasitology, this is best exe
mplified by the application of genome mapping techniques to the study
of genome structure and function in the protozoan parasite, Leishmania
. Although much is known about the organism and the diseases it causes
, molecular genetics has only recently begun to play a major part in e
lucidating some of the unusual characteristics of this interesting par
asite. Mapping of the small (35 Mb) genome and determination of the fu
nctional role of genes by the application of in vitro homologous gene
targeting techniques are revealing novel avenues for the development o
f prophylactic measures.