title: Genetic variability of the serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein gene in clinical isolates from the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: The genetic diversity of 20 Entamoeba histolytica isolates from asymptomatic individuals from the UAE was investigated by analyzing polymorphism in the serine-rich E. histolytica gene (SREHP) by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) on DNA extracted directly from stool samples. The SREHP gene was successfully amplified in 15 out of 20 E. histolytica-positive samples. Four out of the remaining five isolates did not amplify for the SREHP gene. Despite successful amplification of the SREHP gene in the fifth isolate, AluI digestion of the amplified PCR product revealed no bands. As a result, all five samples were excluded from the study. Twelve different profiles were obtained from the 15 successfully amplified isolates. Thus, demonstrating extensive genetic variability and reinforcing the argument that E. histolytica has an extremely polymorphic genetic structure. Despite the sample size limitation, a finding in the study was the occurrence of one profile common to one Indian isolate while another profile common to one Pakistani isolate; indicating the possibility of clonal infection. Furthermore, we found one isolate from a Bangladeshi expatriate identical to 2 asymptomatic Bangladeshi isolates reported in an earlier study. No clear association between the different genotypes and the study population demographics was noted. The results also indicated the possibility of strains clustering by region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: ElBakri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors.forename: Amidou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Samie
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
authors.forename: Sinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ezzedine
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
authors.forename: Ra'ed  Abu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Odeh
mesh_terms: D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014479:United Arab Emirates
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; C073020:serine-rich protein, Entamoeba histolytica