Genetics and Genomics of Protozoan Parasites

A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Genetics and Genomics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 1449

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Biochemistry and Molecular Parasitology Group, Department of Parasitology, Universidad de Granada, 18011 Granada, Spain
Interests: cryptosporidium; host–parasite interaction in cryptosporidiosis; inmunotherapy and chemotheratpy; genomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The impact of parasitic protozoa at a global level constitutes one of the greatest challenges for health; parasitosis diseases, such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, or amoebiasis, constitute an important barrier for the social and economic development of many populations, especially in developing countries. Despite the great progress made in recent years regarding the knowledge of these diseases, it has fundamentally been the development of molecular biology, and especially genomics, that has substantially contributed to unraveling the complex biology of these organisms. This spurs progress in the development of new therapies and preventive measures based on new approaches, such as target-based drug design supported by genomics and typing methods based on whole-genome sequencing data.

This Special Issue on Genetics and Genomics of Protozoan Parasites will provide updates the latest advances and approaches for both a better understanding of the biology of these parasites and the development of new therapies to fight these pathogens. We welcome both original studies and reviews with a focus on next-generation sequencing and data exploration for the development of vaccines, drugs, and surveillance and control strategies.

Dr. Gregorio Pérez-Cordón
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 5890 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Classification of Myb Domain-Containing Protein Families in Entamoeba invadens
by Patricia Cuellar, Elizabeth J. Castañeda-Ortiz, César Rosales-Zarza, Carlos E. Martínez-Rodríguez, Israel Canela-Pérez, Mario Alberto Rodríguez, Jesús Valdés and Elisa Azuara-Liceaga
Genes 2024, 15(2), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15020201 - 2 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1159
Abstract
Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, is the third leading cause of death among parasitic diseases globally. Its life cycle includes encystation, which has been mostly studied in Entamoeba invadens, responsible for reptilian amebiasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this [...] Read more.
Entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of amebiasis, is the third leading cause of death among parasitic diseases globally. Its life cycle includes encystation, which has been mostly studied in Entamoeba invadens, responsible for reptilian amebiasis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not fully understood. Therefore, we focused on the identification and characterization of Myb proteins, which regulate the expression of encystation-related genes in various protozoan parasites. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified 48 genes in E. invadens encoding MYB-domain-containing proteins. These were classified into single-repeat 1R (20), 2R-MYB proteins (27), and one 4R-MYB protein. The in-silico analysis suggests that these proteins are multifunctional, participating in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, telomere maintenance, and splicing. Transcriptomic data analysis revealed expression signatures of eimyb genes, suggesting a potential orchestration in the regulation of early and late encystation–excystation genes. Furthermore, we identified probable target genes associated with reproduction, the meiotic cell cycle, ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, and endosomal transport. In conclusion, our findings suggest that E. invadens Myb proteins regulate stage-specific proteins and a wide array of cellular processes. This study provides a foundation for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms governing encystation and unveils potential targets for therapeutic intervention in amebiasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetics and Genomics of Protozoan Parasites)
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