title: Entamoeba Encystation: New Targets to Prevent the Transmission of Amebiasis.
abstract: Amebiasis is caused by Entamoeba histolytica infection and can produce a broad range of clinical signs, from asymptomatic cases to patients with obvious symptoms. The current epidemiological and clinical statuses of amebiasis make it a serious public health problem worldwide. The Entamoeba life cycle consists of the trophozoite, the causative agent for amebiasis, and the cyst, the form responsible for transmission. These two stages are connected by "encystation" and "excystation." Hence, developing novel strategies to control encystation and excystation will potentially lead to new measures to block the transmission of amebiasis by interrupting the life cycle of the causative agent. Here, we highlight studies investigating encystation using inhibitory chemicals and categorize them based on the molecules inhibited. We also present a perspective on new strategies to prevent the transmission of amebiasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Fumika
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mi-Ichi
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular and Cellular Immunoscience, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Saga, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinjiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamano
mesh_terms: D000562:Amebiasis / Q000635:transmission*; D004747:Entamoeba; D006801:Humans