LDI AMPLIFICATIONS IN LEISHMANIA

The genome of Leishmania is quite plastic. Chromosomal rearrangements and DNA amplifications are common events in all the species of the gen us. Gene amplification occurs both as a mechanism of drug resistance a nd in the absence of drug pressure. The best known spontaneous amplifi cation in Leishmania is the so-called LD1 family of amplicons. In the past few years there have been great advances in our knowledge of LD1 elements; here, Manuel Segovia and Gines Ortiz review all the availabl e data.