Genetic ablation of purine salvage in Cryptosporidium parvum reveals nucleotide uptake from the host cell.

ABSTRACT: The apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium is a leading global cause of severe diarrheal disease and an important contributor to early-childhood mortality. Waterborne outbreaks occur frequently, even in countries with advanced water treatment capabilities, and there is currently no fully effective treatment. Nucleotide pathways are attractive targets for antimicrobial development, and several laboratories are designing inhibitors of these enzymes as potential treatment for Cryptosporidium infections. Here we take advantage of newly available molecular genetics for Cryptosporidium parvum to investigate nucleotide biosynthesis by directed gene ablation. Surprisingly, we found that the parasite tolerates the loss of classical targets including dihydrofolate reductase-thymi

SUBMITTER: Pawlowic MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6800313 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature