Chimerization at the AQP2–AQP3 locus is the genetic basis of melarsoprol–pentamidine cross-resistance in clinical Trypanosoma brucei gambiense isolates

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2015.04.002
• Publication Date: 2015-05-07T12:46:11Z
• Authors: Fabrice E. Graf; Nicola Baker; Jane C. Munday; Harry P. de Koning; David Horn; Pascal Mäser
• Keywords: Pentamidine

Aquaglyceroporin-2 is a known determinant of melarsoprol-pentamidine cross-resistance in Trypanosoma brucei laboratory strains. Recently, chimerization at the AQP2-AQP3 tandem locus was described from cross-resistant gambiense isolates sleeping sickness patients Democratic Republic Congo. Here, we demonstrate that reintroduction wild-type AQP2 into one these fully restores drug susceptibility while expression chimeric AQP2/3 gene aqp2-aqp3 null T. b. does not. This proves cause isolates.