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Identification of an Entamoeba histolytica Serine-, Threonine-, and Isoleucine-Rich Protein with Roles in Adhesion and Cytotoxicity
Journal article   Open access

Identification of an Entamoeba histolytica Serine-, Threonine-, and Isoleucine-Rich Protein with Roles in Adhesion and Cytotoxicity

Ryan C. MacFarlane and Upinder Singh
Eukaryotic cell, Vol.6(11), pp.2139-2146
11/01/2007
DOI: 10.1128/EC.00174-07
PMID: 17827347
url
https://doi.org/10.1128/EC.00174-07View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is a leading cause of parasitic death globally. However, the molecular framework regulating pathogenesis is poorly understood. We have previously used expression profiling to identify Entamoeba genes whose expressions were strictly associated with virulent strains (R. C. MacFarlane and U. Singh, Infect. Immun. 74:340-351, 2006). One gene, which we have named EhSTIRP (Entamoeba histolytica serine-, threonine-, and isoleucine-rich protein), was exclusively expressed in virulent but not in nonvirulent Entamoeba strains. EhSTIRP is predicted to be a transmembrane protein and is encoded by a multigene family. In order to characterize its function in amebic biology, we used a double-stranded RNA-based approach and were able to selectively down-regulate expression of this gene family. Upon EhSTIRP down-regulation, we were able to ascribe cytotoxic and adhesive properties to the protein family using lactate dehydrogenase release and Chinese hamster ovary cell adhesion assays. EhSTIRP thus likely represents a novel determinant of virulence in Entamoeba histolytica. This work validates the fact that genes expressed exclusively in virulent strains may represent virulence determinants and highlights the need for further functional analyses of other genes with similar expression profiles.

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