The proposed experiments will explore the response of Entamoeba to cyst- inducing conditions at the levels of cellular ultrastructure, gene expression and protein synthesis. Knowledge of the requirements and responses of the encysting cell will provide information useful for designing approaches to interrupt this stage of the parasite life cycle, thereby lowering the number of infective forms of the parasite in the human population. E. invadens will initially be used as a model system for E. histolytica. Conditions of cyst formation will be optimized to obtain high yields of cysts from in vitro trophozoite cultures. Electron microscopy will be used to examine ultrastructural changes during encystation. Novel protein synthesis will be examined with metabolically labelled encysting cultures and antisera which recognize cyst-specific products. Genes expressed during encystation will be isolated and used to monitor the transcriptional response of parasites during encystment. Conditions which support encystment of E. histolytica will be sought, in order to develop an in vitro cyst-forming system for the human parasite.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29AI033716-02
Application #
2068788
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1994-07-01
Project End
1999-06-30
Budget Start
1995-07-01
Budget End
1996-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1995
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
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Cho, J; Eichinger, D (1998) Crithidia fasciculata induces encystation of Entamoeba invadens in a galactose-dependent manner. J Parasitol 84:705-10
de la Vega, H; Specht, C A; Semino, C E et al. (1997) Cloning and expression of chitinases of Entamoebae. Mol Biochem Parasitol 85:139-47
Eichinger, D (1997) Encystation of entamoeba parasites. Bioessays 19:633-9
Gonzalez, J; Frevert, U; Corey, E J et al. (1997) Proteasome function is required for encystation of Entamoeba invadens. Arch Med Res 28 Spec No:139-40