UNRAVELING THE LEISHMANIA GENOME

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.