Biomaterial Database

Adaptation of Cryptosporidium oocysts to different excystation conditions. 2007

G Widmer, and P Klein, and R Bonilla

Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. giovanni.widmer@tufts.edu

Within the genus Cryptosporidium 2 lineages have evolved, one adapted to the acid environment of the stomach and abomasum, the other comprising parasites that multiply in the small intestine. We tested whether the release of sporozoites from oocysts, a process known as excystation, is triggered by conditions which mimic the site of infection. Specifically, we exposed oocysts from gastric and intestinal Cryptosporidium species to acid conditions or to a neutral solution of taurocholic acid, at 37 degrees C. We found that oocysts from the gastric species C. muris and C. andersoni excysted in both conditions, whereas the intestinal species C. parvum and C. hominis did not respond to acid. When the effect of temperature alone was tested on C. muris and C. parvum, only oocysts from the former species excysted in significant numbers. Oocysts from intestinal species did not respond to temperature alone, nor to acidity. These observations are consistent with the need of gastric species to rapidly excyst and release the sporozoites upon ingestion, and indicate that Cryptosporidium oocysts have evolved to maximize delivery of sporozoites to the region of the gastro-intestinal tract where the parasite multiplies.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007422	Intestines	The section of the alimentary canal from the STOMACH to the ANAL CANAL. It includes the LARGE INTESTINE and SMALL INTESTINE.	Intestine
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002418	Cattle Diseases	Diseases of domestic cattle of the genus Bos. It includes diseases of cows, yaks, and zebus.	Bovine Diseases,Bovine Disease,Cattle Disease,Disease, Bovine,Disease, Cattle,Diseases, Bovine,Diseases, Cattle
D003457	Cryptosporidiosis	Intestinal infection with organisms of the genus CRYPTOSPORIDIUM. It occurs in both animals and humans. Symptoms include severe DIARRHEA.	Cryptosporidium Infection,Cryptosporidioses,Cryptosporidium Infections,Infection, Cryptosporidium
D003458	Cryptosporidium	A genus of coccidian parasites of the family CRYPTOSPORIDIIDAE, found in the intestinal epithelium of many vertebrates including humans.	Cryptosporidiums
D006863	Hydrogen-Ion Concentration	The normality of a solution with respect to HYDROGEN ions; H+. It is related to acidity measurements in most cases by pH	pH,Concentration, Hydrogen-Ion,Concentrations, Hydrogen-Ion,Hydrogen Ion Concentration,Hydrogen-Ion Concentrations
D000220	Adaptation, Biological	Changes in biological features that help an organism cope with its ENVIRONMENT. These changes include physiological (ADAPTATION, PHYSIOLOGICAL), phenotypic and genetic changes.	Adaptation, Biologic,Biological Adaptation,Biologic Adaptation
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013270	Stomach	An organ of digestion situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen between the termination of the ESOPHAGUS and the beginning of the DUODENUM.	Stomachs