Relevance of T. cruzi genetic variability in applied research
The concepts of clonet, near-clade, and Russian doll pattern are robust and it is likely that they will not be called into question by further studies.
The clonets and near-clades are convenient units of analysis for molecular epidemiology (epidemiological tracking, strain typing). However, clonet identification should be based on a broad range of markers. A set of three markers has been proposed for reliable, routine characterization of T. cruzi near-clades.78
Apart from epidemiological tracking, the near-clades should be taken into account for all applied studies investigating T. cruzi: clinical studies, drug development, diagnostic testing, and vaccine design.98 It is crucial, for example, to verify that a new drug is effective in all genetic variants of T. cruzi. A set of stocks representative of the near-clade classification should therefore be used for all these types of study.
Lastly, clonets and near-clades, due to their discreteness and stability in space and time, are ideal units of analysis for experimental evolution.88-90
