Cryptosporidium oocyst wall proteins are true components of the oocyst wall and COWP8 is not required for parasite transmission.

ABSTRACT: Cryptosporidiosis is a significant cause of diarrhoeal disease contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality for the immunocompromised and for young children, especially those who are malnourished. There are no vaccines and no effective treatments for these patients. Cryptosporidium parasites are transmitted as an oocyst, which is composed of a hardy oocyst wall that protects parasites in the environment. Oocysts are often waterborne, and are resistant to common water treatments, including chlorination. Little is understood about how the Cryptosporidium oocyst is constructed, its composition, and the how it resists chlorination. A family of nine Cryptosporidium Oocyst Wall Proteins (COWPs) is predicted from the genome. However, due to the technical challenges of working with this par

SUBMITTER: Bacchetti R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12548878 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature