Phylogenetic relationships within the suborder Trypanosomatina were inferred from the kinetoplast DNA minicircle conserved region sequences. Trees built using distancc-matrix (Neighbor-Joining) and maximum parsimony methods showed that the minicircle conserved regions (CRs) provide a sensitive and specific molecular marker suitable for phylogenetic analyses of subspecies and strains of trypanosomalid flagellates, as testified by the subdivision of the genus Leishmania into the subgenera Leishmania, Viannia and Sauroleishmania. However, since Phytomonas and monogenetic parasites of insects represent the earliest diverging groups, the CRs do not seem to be useful for inference of relationships among major lineages of the order Kinetoplastida.
Four new species of monoxenous kinetoplastid parasites are described from Brachycera flies, namely Wallaceina raviniae Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 and Crithidia otongatchiensis Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 from Ecuador, Leptomonas moramango Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 from Madagascar, and Crithidia pragensis Votýpka, Klepetková et Lukeš, 2014 from the Czech Republic. The new species are described here based on sequence analysis of their spliced leader (SL) RNA, glycosomal glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) and small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes, as well as their morphology and ultrastructure. High-pressure freezing and Bernhard's EDTA regressive staining, used for the first time for monoxenous (one host) trypanosomatids, revealed the presence of viral particles with cytosolic localization in one and unique mitochondrial localization in another species. In accordance with previous observations, our results emphasize a discrepancy between morphology and molecular taxonomy of the family Trypanosomatidae. All four newly described species are represented by typical morphotypes (mainly choano- and promastigotes) and are virtually indistinguishable from other monoxenous trypanosomatids by morphology. Nevertheless, they all differ in their phylogenetic affinities. Whereas three of them grouped within the recently defined subfamily Leishmaniinae, which includes numerous representatives of the genera Leishmania Ross, 1903, Crithidia Léger, 1902 and Leptomonas Kent, 1880, the fourth species clusters together with the ''collosoma'' clade (named after ''Leptomonas'' collosoma Wallace, Clark, Dyer et Collins, 1960). Here we demonstrate that the ''collosoma'' group represents the elusive genus Wallaceina Podlipaev, Frolov et Kolesnikov, 1999. We redefine this genus in molecular terms based on similarities of the respective molecular markers and propose to use this taxon name for the group of species of the ''collosoma'' clade.
Chagas disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is one of the most serious and widespread infectious diseases in South America. Mechanism of severe heart damage, hallmark of the disease, remains largely unknown. Some scientists maintain that mitochondrial DNA of the parasite integrates into the genome of Chagas patients and is even inherited by their children. However, many doubts that remain about this unprecedented finding are discussed here.