title: Phylogenetic relationships of Cryptosporidium parasites based on the 70-kilodalton heat shock protein (HSP70) gene.
abstract: We have characterized the nucleotide sequences of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) genes of Cryptosporidium baileyi, C. felis, C. meleagridis, C. muris, C. serpentis, C. wrairi, and C. parvum from various animals. Results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of several genetically distinct species in the genus Cryptosporidium and eight distinct genotypes within the species C. parvum. Some of the latter may represent cryptic species. The phylogenetic tree constructed from these sequences is in agreement with our previous results based on the small-subunit rRNA genes of Cryptosporidium parasites. The Cryptosporidium species formed two major clades: isolates of C. muris and C. serpentis formed the first major group, while isolates of C. felis, C. meleagridis, C. wrairi, and eight genotypes of C. parvum formed the second major group. Sequence variations were also observed between C. muris isolates from ruminants and rodents. The HSP70 gene provides another useful locus for phylogenetic analysis of the genus Cryptosporidium.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, USA.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins