Giardia lamblia -- a model organism for eukaryotic cell differentiation.
Giardia lamblia is a binucleated, flagellated protozoan parasite that inhabits the upper small intestine of its vertebrate hosts. The entire life cycle, which can be completed in vitro, is simple with cycling between a vegetative trophozoite and a highly resistant cystic form. The parasite is one of the earliest diverging eukaryotes known and more than 95% of the genome is sequenced. This makes Giardia an excellent model system for studies of basic eukaryotic processes like cell differentiation. In this review we will discuss recent data concerning Giardia differentiation with a focus on DNA replication and cytokinesis.
Svärd
Staffan G
SG
Microbiology and Tumour Biology Center, Karolinska Institutet, Box 280, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden. staffan.svard@mtc.ki.se
Hagblom
Per
P
Palm
J E Daniel
JE
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal