Complete genome sequence of the apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium parvum.
The apicomplexan Cryptosporidium parvum is an intestinal parasite that affects healthy humans and animals, and causes an unrelenting infection in immunocompromised individuals such as AIDS patients. We report the complete genome sequence of C. parvum, type II isolate. Genome analysis identifies extremely streamlined metabolic pathways and a reliance on the host for nutrients. In contrast to Plasmodium and Toxoplasma, the parasite lacks an apicoplast and its genome, and possesses a degenerate mitochondrion that has lost its genome. Several novel classes of cell-surface and secreted proteins with a potential role in host interactions and pathogenesis were also detected. Elucidation of the core metabolism, including enzymes with high similarities to bacterial and plant counterparts, opens new avenues for drug development.
Abrahamsen
Mitchell S
MS
Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. abe@umn.edu
Templeton
Thomas J
TJ
Enomoto
Shinichiro
S
Abrahante
Juan E
JE
Zhu
Guan
G
Lancto
Cheryl A
CA
Deng
Mingqi
M
Liu
Chang
C
Widmer
Giovanni
G
Tzipori
Saul
S
Buck
Gregory A
GA
Xu
Ping
P
Bankier
Alan T
AT
Dear
Paul H
PH
Konfortov
Bernard A
BA
Spriggs
Helen F
HF
Iyer
Lakshminarayan
L
Anantharaman
Vivek
V
Aravind
L
L
Kapur
Vivek
V
D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004351:Drug Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D004798:Enzymes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D006019:Glycolysis; D007438:Introns; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D005810:Multigene Family; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D015388:Organelles / Q000235:genetics; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004798:Enzymes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011687:Purines; D000431:Ethanol