Experimental evidence for genetic recombination in the opportunistic pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum.

摘要: Cryptosporidium parvum is an intracellular protozoan parasite causing intestinal malabsorption and diarrhea in humans. The infection usually self-limiting, although persistent cryptosporidosis observed immunocompromised malnourished individuals. As with other Apicomplexa, the life cycle of thought to comprise a sexual phase, during which motile microgamont fuses sessile macrogamont. four sporozoites found within each oocyst (the infectious form excreted feces) are be product meiotic division taking place immediately following fertilization, but existence this genus has not been tested experimentally. To substantiate occurrence recombination species, we performed genetic cross between two distinct isolates C. co-infected INF-gamma knockout mice. We that mixed infections produced recombinant progeny characterized by multilocus genotypes comprising alleles inherited from parental line. This observation represents first demonstration pathogen. Together genetically heterogeneous infections, finding suggests outcrossing may occur nature. Experimental crosses among populations will facilitate mapping clinically relevant genes, delineation defining taxonomical status subtypes host-specific genotypes.