title: Complete genome sequence of the apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium parvum.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. abe@umn.edu
authors.forename: Mitchell S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Abrahamsen
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Templeton
authors.forename: Shinichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Juan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Abrahante
authors.forename: Guan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lancto
authors.forename: Mingqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Widmer
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzipori
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Buck
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Alan T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Bankier
authors.forename: Paul H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Dear
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Konfortov
authors.forename: Helen F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Spriggs
authors.forename: Lakshminarayan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iyer
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Anantharaman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aravind
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kapur
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004798:Enzymes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011687:Purines; D000431:Ethanol