DNA sequence of the gp63 fragment encoding the functional domain of leishmanolysin in natural isolates of Leishmania braziliensis from Corte de Pedra, Northeast Brazil: allele 45.

DNA sequence of the gp63 fragment encoding the functional domain of leishmanolysin in natural isolates of Leishmania braziliensis from Corte de Pedra, Northeast Brazil: allele 45. The stretch of gp 63 previously described as encoding the functional domain of the molecule was amplified by PCR, cloned into pcr 2.1 vector and bidirectionally sequenced. Sequences from a panel of 41 parasite isolates were aligned and 45 alleles of the fragment could be identified based on indel and SNPs presented among cloned domains. Haplotypes of polymorphisms (indel and SNPs) that could be detected in at least two clones of the gp63 domain in a single isolate, and in at least two parasite isolates in the collection were considered alleles. Corte de Pedra is a region highly endemic for American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) due to L. braziliensis. Several forms of ATL occur and close to 1,500 new cases are diagnosed in the region each year