Developmental expression of a tandemly repeated, glycine- and serine-rich spore wall protein in the microsporidian pathogen Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

ABSTRACT: Microsporidia are intracellular organisms of increasing importance as opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised patients. Host cells are infected by the extrusion and injection of polar tubes located within spores. The spore is surrounded by a rigid spore wall which, in addition to providing mechanical resistance, might be involved in host cell recognition and initiation of the infection process. A 51-kDa outer spore wall protein was identified in Encephalitozoon cuniculi with the aid of a monoclonal antibody, and the corresponding gene, SWP1, was cloned by immunoscreening of a cDNA expression library. The cDNA encodes a protein of 450 amino acids which displays no significant similarities to known proteins in databases. The carboxy-terminal region consists of five tandemly arranged gly

SUBMITTER: Bohne W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC97413 | biostudies-literature | 2000 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature