title: Entamoeba histolytica: sequence conservation of the Gal/GalNAc lectin from clinical isolates.
abstract: The Gal/GalNAc lectin gene of Entamoeba histolytica is a major amebic virulence protein responsible for interaction with host tissues. We investigated sequence differences in the Gal/GalNAc lectin heavy subunit in three isolates from Bangladesh and one isolate from Georgia, each of which was determined to be genetically distinct by SREHP AluI digestion. Interestingly, we observed only slight genetic diversity in the lectin gene as compared with the HM1:IMSS laboratory strain, originally a clinical isolate from Mexico. Genetic conservation of the Gal/GalNAc lectin between isolates may reflect that the lectin is under strong functional selection or possibly, that E. histolytica is a clonal population. Sequence conservation of the lectin indicates that immune responses against it should be cross-protective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-1340, USA.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanyuksel
authors.forename: Aaron J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mackey
authors.forename: Rashidul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Trapaidze
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loftus
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Petri
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001459:Bangladesh; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: C434499:Igl1 protein, Entamoeba histolytica; C434500:Igl2 protein, Entamoeba histolytica; D037102:Lectins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins