title: Sphingolipids, Lipid Rafts, and Giardial Encystation: The Show Must Go On.
abstract: Sphingolipids are sphingosine-based phospholipids, which are present in the plasma and endomembranes of many eukaryotic cells. These lipids are involved in various cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition, sphingolipid and cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains (also called "lipid rafts") contain a set of proteins and lipids, which take part in the signaling process in response to intra- or extracellular stimuli. Recent findings suggest that sphingolipids, especially glucosylceramide, play a critical role in inducing encystation and maintaining the cyst viability inGiardia. Similarly, the assembly/disassembly of lipid rafts modulates the encystation and cyst production of this ubiquitous enteric parasite. In this review article, we discuss the overall progress in the field and examine whether sphingolipids and lipid rafts can be used as novel targets for designing therapies to control infection byGiardia, which is rampant in developing countries, where children are especially vulnerable.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Tavis L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Atasi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Chatterjee
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Joaquin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Leon
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Leobarda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robles-Martinez
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease and Immunology Cluster, The Border Biomedical Research Center, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 W. University Avenue, El Paso, TX 79968-0519, USA.
authors.forename: Siddhartha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Das
keywords: Cyst; Encystation; Giardia; Lipid; Lipid rafts; Sphingolipid