Ortega-Pierres M Guadalupe, Jex Aaron R, Ansell Brendan R E, Svärd Staffan G
Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados IPN, México City, Mexico.
Population Health and Immunity Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Vic, Australia; Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic, Australia.
Acta Trop. 2018 Aug;184:67-72. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.09.004. Epub 2017 Sep 6.
Giardia duodenalis is the most common gastrointestinal protozoan parasite of humans and a significant contributor to the global burden of both diarrheal disease and post-infectious chronic disorders. Robust tools for analyzing gene function in this parasite have been developed and a range of genetic tools are now available. These together with public databases have provided insights on the function of different genes in Giardia. In this review we provide a current perspective on different molecular aspects of Giardia related to genomics, regulation of encystation, trophozoite transcriptional responses to physiological and xenobiotic (drug-induced) stress, and mechanisms of drug resistance. We also examine recent insights that have contributed to gain knowledge in the study of VSPs, antigenic variation, epigenetics, DNA repair and in the direct manipulation of gene function in Giardia, with a particular focus on the inducible Cre/loxP system.
十二指肠贾第虫是人类最常见的胃肠道原生动物寄生虫，也是导致全球腹泻病和感染后慢性疾病负担的重要因素。目前已开发出用于分析该寄生虫基因功能的强大工具，并且一系列遗传工具也已可用。这些工具与公共数据库一起，为了解贾第虫不同基因的功能提供了线索。在本综述中，我们提供了关于贾第虫不同分子方面的当前观点，这些方面涉及基因组学、包囊化调控、滋养体对生理和异生物质（药物诱导）应激的转录反应以及耐药机制。我们还研究了最近在贾第虫可变表面蛋白（VSPs）、抗原变异、表观遗传学、DNA修复以及基因功能直接操纵研究中有助于获取知识的见解，特别关注可诱导的Cre/loxP系统。
