THE TRYPANOSOMA-CRUZI GENOME INITIATIVE

An initiative was launched in 1994 by the Special Prone for Research a nd Training in Tropical Diseases (TDX) of the WHO to analyse the genom es of the parasites Filaria, Schistosoma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma bruc ei and Trypanosoma cruzi. Five networks were established through wide publicity, holding meetings of key laboratories and developing proposa ls which were then reviewed by the Steering Committee of Strategic Res earch for financial support. The aim of the Programme was to use the p latform of these networks to: (1) train scientists From tropical disea se-endemic countries; (2) transfer technology and share material and e xpertise, thereby reducing costs anti increasing efficiency; and (3) p rovide an information system that is accessible globally as soon as th e results become available. The initial target suits to produce a low- resolution genome map for each of the parasites, but it soon became ev ident that by using rapidly developing technologies, it might be feasi ble to complete DNA-sequence analysis for some of the parasites in the next decade, as discussed here by Alberto Carlos Frasch and colleague s, with particular focus on the T, cruzi genome initiative.