Analysis of the beta-tubulin genes from Enterocytozoon bieneusi isolates from a human and rhesus macaque.
Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common and clinically significant microsporidium associated with chronic diarrhea and wasting in immunocompromised humans. Albendazole, which is effective against several helminths, protozoa, and microsporidia, is relatively ineffective against infections due to E. bieneusi. A likely explanation for the observed clinical resistance to albendazole was discovered from sequence analysis of the E. bieneusibeta-tubulin from isolates from an infected human and a naturally infected rhesus macaque. The beta-tubulin of E. bieneusi has a substitution at Glu(198), which is one of six amino acids reported to be associated with benzimidazole sensitivity.
Akiyoshi
Donna E
DE
Division of Infectious Diseases, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts 01536, USA. donna.akiyoshi@tufts.edu
Weiss
Louis M
LM
Feng
Xiaochuan
X
Williams
Bryony A P
BA
Keeling
Patrick J
PJ
Zhang
Quanshun
Q
Tzipori
Saul
S
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006678:HIV / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000502:physiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics*
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D014404:Tubulin; D015766:Albendazole