Host tissue invasion by
E. histolytica is driven by motility and phagocytosis, which are both regulated primarily by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. The structural and signaling components of the actin cytoskeleton from available genomes of three
Entamoeba species,
E. histolytica,
E.dispar and
E. invadens, have been annotated manually and compared systematically. These protein families include the actin superfamily, actin nucleators, calponin-related actin-binding proteins (ABPs), gelsolin-related ABPs, myosins, small GTPases and their regulators, as well as phospholipid signaling regulators.
from Anaerobic Parasitic Protozoa: Genomics and Molecular BiologyFurther reading:Labels: Actin, Actin nucleators, Actin superfamily, E dispar, E histolytica, E invadens, Entamoeba histolytica, motility, Phagocytosis, Small GTPases
Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebic dysentery and liver abscess that affect millions of people annually worldwide resulting in tens of thousands deaths.
Loftus et al. published an annotation of the draft genome assembly in 2005. However, subsequent identification of assembly artifacts and the availability of additional sequence and functional data made necessary a thorough revision of its entire sequence and annotation. The genome of
E. histolytica has now been re-assembled and re-annotated, incorporating significant structural and functional modifications to existing gene models.
The new 20 million basepair genome assembly contains 8,160 predicted genes; known and novel transposable elements have been mapped and characterized, functional assignments have been revised and updated, and additional information has been incorporated, including metabolic pathways, Gene Ontology assignments, curation of transporters, and generation of gene families. All information is available through GenBank and Pathema, a web resource that unifies and displays up to date genome information.
from Anaerobic Parasitic Protozoa: Genomics and Molecular BiologyFurther reading:Labels: Amoebic dysentery, E histolytica, Entamoeba histolytica, Liver abscess