Cryptosporidium parvum protease INS6 plays an important role in parasite proliferation and pathogenicity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cryptosporidium parvum is a common protozoan pathogen responsible for moderate to severe diarrhea in humans and animals. Parasite invasion and egress cause damage to intestinal epithelial cells, which is mediated by a variety of secretory proteins from several unique organelles, such as micronemes. Previous spatial proteomic analysis has identified insulinase-like protease 6 (INS6) as a putative microneme protein in C. parvum. However, the functional contribution of INS6 to Cryptosporidium pathogenicity remains poorly characterized. In this study, we used genetic manipulation techniques to investigate the expression and biological functions of INS6 in C. parvum.

Methodology/principal findings

The INS6 gene was tagged and deleted in C. parvum using CRISPR/Cas9 tech

SUBMITTER: He W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12443312 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature