Cryptosporidium parvum

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Cryptosporidium parvum

Classification

Higher order taxa

Eukaryota; Alveolata; Apicomplexa; Coccidia; Eucoccidiorida; Eimeriorina; Cryptosporidiidae; Cryptosporidium; Cryptosporidium parvum

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Cryptosporidium parvum

Description and significance

Cryptosporidium parvum is part of the phylum Apicomplexa which contains many important parasites such as Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Babesia, Cyclospora, Isopora, and Eimeria. C. parvum is an eukaryotic intracellular pathogens that infects both humans and livestock causing the disease cryptosporidiosis (2). The parasite is a serious global health concern. It is especially a problem in underdeveloped regions of the world where sanitation is an issue (6). This parasite is also particularly dangerous to children and immuno-deficient patients. Transmission is common through ingestion of contaminated water sources. The disease has the potential to infect on a large scale. In 1993, 400,000 people in Milwaukee were ill from drinking water contaminated with this parasite (7). Important epidemiological studies have been done on the species. However, while extensive researches have been done on this particular parasite, no known cure is currently available for cryptosporidiosis (2). Ever since the Milwaukee incident, extra consideration has been given to control and prevent cryptosporidiosis outbreak (7).

Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis are two closely related pathogens. They are among the 15 species in genus Cryptosporidium that causes intestinal diseases in human and animals. C. parvum and C. hominis were previously known as C. parvum genotype 1 and C. parvum genotype 2, respectively. However, it is now understood that the two species have different transmission cycles and invade a different range of hosts. (8) The genomic sequences of C. hominis and C. parvum show that they only have 3-5% divergence and no large insertions, deletions or rearrangement. The similarity between the two suggests that their phenotypic differences are caused by polymorphism in coding regions and differences in gene regulation (1).

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

Pain, A., Crossman, L., and Parkhill, J. “Comparative Apicomplexan genomics”. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2005. Volume 3. p. 454-455. http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v3/n6/full/nrmicro1174_fs.html

Abrahamsen, M., Templeton, T., Enomoto, S., Abrahante, J., Zhu, G., Lancto, C., Deng, M., Liu, C., Widmer, G., Tzipori, S., Buck, G., Xu, P., Bankier, A., Dear, P., Konfortov, B., Spriggs, H., Lyer, L., Anantharaman, V., Aravind, L., and Kapur, V. “Complete Genome Sequence of the Apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium parvum”. Science. 2004. Volume 304. p. 441-445. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/304/5669/441

Rider, S., Cai, X., Sullivan, W., Smith, A., Radke, J., White, M., and Zhu, G. “The Protozoan Parasite Cryptosporidium parvum Possesses Two Functionally and Evolutionarily Divergent Replication Protein A Large Subunits”. J. Biol. Chem. 2005. Volume 280. p. 31460-31469. http://www.jbc.org/cgi/content/full/280/36/31460

Casadevall, A., Dadachova, E., Pirofski, L. “Passive Antibody Therapy for Infectious Diseases”. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2004. Volume 2. p. 695-703 http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v2/n9/full/nrmicro974_fs.html

Pain, A., Crossman, L., Sebaihia, M., Cerdeño-Tárraga, A., and Parkhill, J. “Strength in Diversity”. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2004. Volume 2. p. 358-359. http://www.nature.com/nrmicro/journal/v2/n5/full/nrmicro889_fs.html

Widmer, G., Yang, Y., Bonilla, R., Tanriverdi, S., and Ciociola, K. “Preferential infection of dividing cells by Cryptosporidium parvum”. Parasitology. 2006. Volume 133. p. 131-138. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=454979&jid=&volumeId=&issueId=02&aid=454977&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0031182006000151

“Cryptosporidiosis Control and Prevention”. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/cryptosporidiosis/crypto_control_prevent.htm

Bandyopadhyay, K., Kella, K., Moura, I., Cristina, M., Carollo, C., Graczyk, T., Slemenda, S., ohnston, S., Silva, A. “A rapid microsphere assay for identification of Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium parvum in stool and environmental samples”. 2007. Published online ahead of print. http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/reprint/JCM.00138-07v1?view=long&pmid=17652477

"Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook, Cryptosporidium parvum”. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap24.html

Guisar R., Herrera, M., Bandala, E., Garcia, J., and Corona-Vasquez, B. “Inactivation of waterborne pathogens using solar photocatalysis”. Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies. 2007. Volume 10. p. 435-438. http://portal.isiknowledge.com/portal.cgi?DestApp=WOS&Func=Frame

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen Angela Wang