Publications

amebiasis presenting as acute appendicitis: report of a case and review of japanese literature.	outside of these high-risk regions, acute amebic appendicitis is considerably rarer and the mortality rate is much higher than with non-amebic appendicitis.	2014	25460473
regulation of serum-responsive transmembrane kinase ehtmkb1-9 by an unsaturated lipid, oleic acid in protistan parasite entamoeba histolytica.	transmembrane kinases of entamoeba histolytica are known to play a wide range of roles from virulence, phagocytosis, and proliferation to stress response. transmembrane kinase ehtmkb1-9 is thought to be involved in early proliferative response and it was originally identified as a serum inducible gene. ability to stimulate ehtmkb1 expression of serum starved cells resides in unsaturated fatty acids associated with albumin fraction of serum and the mechanism of stimulation follows activation of e ...	2014	25497959
immune markers characteristic for asymptomatically infected and diseased entamoeba histolytica individuals and their relation to sex.	the protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica (e. histolytica) usually asymptomatically colonizes the human intestine. in the minority of the cases, the parasite evades from the gut and can induce severe symptoms like colitis or amebic liver abscess (ala). interestingly, ala predominates in adult men despite a higher prevalence of the parasite in women. the present study aimed to identify characteristic serum markers in a unique cohort of clearly defined asymptomatically infected e. histolytica i ...	2014	25420932
crystal structures of entamoeba histolytica lysyl-trna synthetase reveal conformational changes upon lysine binding and a specific helix bundle domain.	the class ii lysyl-trna synthetases (krs) are conserved aminoacyl-trna synthetases that attach lysine to the cognate trna in a two-step mechanism. the enzyme from the parasitic protozoan entamoeba histolytica was crystallized in the presence of small ligands to generate snapshots of the lysine-adenylate formation. the residues involved in lysine activation are highly conserved and the active site closes around the lysyl-adenylate, as observed in bacterial krs. the entamoeba emapii-like polypepti ...	2014	25448989
differentially expressed genes of virulent and nonvirulent entamoeba histolytica strains identified by suppression subtractive hybridization.	entamoeba histolytica is a parasite which presents capacity to degrade tissues and therefore has a pathogenic behavior. as this behavior is not shown by all strains, there have been several studies investigating molecular basis of the cytotoxicity process. using the suppression subtractive hybridization (ssh) technique, differential gene expressions of two e. histolytica strains, one virulent (egg) and one nonvirulent (452), have been analyzed with the purpose of isolating genes which may be inv ...	2014	25313356
[analysis of intestinal ameobiasis in patients with diarrhea by adhesin antigen test and direct microscopy].	in this study, we aimed to research the frequency of intestinal amebiasis in patients who applied with diarrhea retrospectively for a year and compare direct microscopic analysis and elisa adhesin antigen test for entamoeba histolytica procedures.	2014	25308451
biochemical and kinetic characterization of the recombinant adp-forming acetyl coenzyme a synthetase from the amitochondriate protozoan entamoeba histolytica.	entamoeba histolytica, an amitochondriate protozoan parasite that relies on glycolysis as a key pathway for atp generation, has developed a unique extended ppi-dependent glycolytic pathway in which adp-forming acetyl-coenzyme a (coa) synthetase (acd; acetate:coa ligase [adp-forming]; ec 6.2.1.13) converts acetyl-coa to acetate to produce additional atp and recycle coa. we characterized the recombinant e. histolytica acd and found that the enzyme is bidirectional, allowing it to potentially play ...	2014	25303954
a novel alpha kinase ehak1 phosphorylates actin and regulates phagocytosis in entamoeba histolytica.	phagocytosis plays a key role in nutrient uptake and virulence of the protist parasite entamoeba histolytica. phagosomes have been characterized by proteomics, and their maturation in the cells has been studied. however, there is so far not much understanding about initiation of phagocytosis and formation of phagosomes at the molecular level. our group has been studying initiation of phagocytosis and formation of phagosomes in e. histolytica, and have described some of the molecules that play ke ...	2014	25299184
crystal structures and kinetics of type iii 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase reveal catalysis by lysine.	d-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (pgdh) catalyzes the first committed step of the phosphorylated serine biosynthesis pathway. here, we report for the first time, the crystal structures of type iiik pgdh from entamoeba histolytica in the apo form, as well as in complexes with substrate (3-phosphoglyceric acid) and cofactor (nad(+) ) to 2.45, 1.8 and 2.2 å resolution, respectively. comparison of the apo structure with the substrate-bound structure shows that the substrate-binding domain is rotated ...	2014	25294608
the parasite entamoeba histolytica exploits the activities of human matrix metalloproteinases to invade colonic tissue.	intestinal invasion by the protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica is characterized by remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ecm). the parasite cysteine proteinase a5 (cp-a5) is thought to cooperate with human matrix metalloproteinases (mmps) involved in ecm degradation. here, we investigate the role cp-a5 plays in the regulation of mmps upon mucosal invasion. we use human colon explants to determine whether cp-a5 activates human mmps. inhibition of the mmps' proteolytic activities abolishes ...	2014	25291063
interaction between nbp35 and cfd1 proteins of cytosolic fe-s cluster assembly reveals a stable complex formation in entamoeba histolytica.	iron-sulfur (fe-s) proteins are involved in many biological functions such as electron transport, photosynthesis, regulation of gene expression and enzymatic activities. biosynthesis and transfer of fe-s clusters depend on fe-s clusters assembly processes such as isc, suf, nif, and cia systems. unlike other eukaryotes which possess isc and cia systems, amitochondriate entamoeba histolytica has retained nif & cia systems for fe-s cluster assembly in the cytosol. in the present study, we have eluc ...	2014	25271645
microscopy versus enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test for detection of entamoeba histolytica infection in stool samples.		2014	25250240
amoeboma of colon mimicking colonic carcinoma.	entamoeba histolytica is a major cause of diarrhea in the developing countries and it can present with a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms depending on the phase of the infection. we describe a case of 65-year-old male patient presented with abdominal pain and vomiting. on the clinical and radiological examination provisional diagnosis of colonic carcinoma was suspected. after resection of perforated caecal growth, histopathological sections showed numerous trophozoites of e. histolytica i ...	2014	25250235
neglected tropical diseases among two indigenous subtribes in peninsular malaysia: highlighting differences and co-infection of helminthiasis and sarcocystosis.	soil-transmitted helminth (sth) infections have been documented among these minority groups since 1938. however the prevalence of sth is still high among these communities. most studies tend to consider the orang asli (indigenous) as a homogenous group. in contrary, different subtribes have their own cultural practices. to understand this variation better, we studied the prevalence and associated factors of sth and other gut parasitic infections among two common subtribes (i.e. temuan and temiar ...	2014	25248116
the mak16 gene of entamoeba histolytica and its identification in isolates from patients.	to identify sequences of entamoeba histolytica associated with the development of amebic liver abscess (ala) in hamsters, subtractive hybridization of cdna from e. histolytica hm-1:imss under 2 growth conditions was performed: 1) cultured in axenic medium and 2) isolated from experimental ala in hamsters. for this procedure, 6 sequences were obtained. of these sequences, the mak16 gene was selected for amplification in 29 cultures of e. histolytica isolated from the feces of 10 patients with int ...	2014	25246723
amoebic pi3k and pkc is required for jurkat t cell death induced by entamoeba histolytica.	the enteric protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amebiasis. during infection, adherence of e. histolytica through gal/galnac lectin on the surface of the amoeba can induce caspase-3-dependent or -independent host cell death. phosphorylinositol 3-kinase (pi3k) and protein kinase c (pkc) in e. histolytica play an important function in the adhesion, killing, or phagocytosis of target cells. in this study, we examined the role of amoebic pi3k and pkc in amoeba-ind ...	2014	25246714
identification of phosphatidylcholine transfer protein-like in the parasite entamoeba histolytica.	caveolin is the protein marker of caveola-mediated endocytosis. previously, we demonstrated by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence that an anti-chick embryo caveolin-1 monoclonal antibody (mab) recognizes a protein in amoeba extracts. nevertheless, the caveolin-1 gene is absent in the entamoeba histolytica genome database. in this work, the goal was to isolate, identify and characterize the protein that cross-reacts with chick embryo caveolin-1. we identified the protein using a proteomic appr ...	2014	25223890
a new human 3d-liver model unravels the role of galectins in liver infection by the parasite entamoeba histolytica.	investigations of human parasitic diseases depend on the availability of appropriate in vivo animal models and ex vivo experimental systems, and are particularly difficult for pathogens whose exclusive natural hosts are humans, such as entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan parasite responsible for amoebiasis. this common infectious human disease affects the intestine and liver. in the liver sinusoids e. histolytica crosses the endothelium and penetrates into the parenchyma, with the concomitant i ...	2014	25211477
gene expression profiling in entamoeba histolytica identifies key components in iron uptake and metabolism.	entamoeba histolytica is an ameboid parasite that causes colonic dysentery and liver abscesses in humans. the parasite encounters dramatic changes in iron concentration during its invasion of the host, with relatively low levels in the intestinal lumen and then relatively high levels in the blood and liver. the liver notably contains sources of iron; therefore, the parasite's ability to use these sources might be relevant to its survival in the liver and thus the pathogenesis of liver abscesses. ...	2014	25210888
ehcoactosin stabilizes actin filaments in the protist parasite entamoeba histolytica.	entamoeba histolytica is a protist parasite that is the causative agent of amoebiasis, and is a highly motile organism. the motility is essential for its survival and pathogenesis, and a dynamic actin cytoskeleton is required for this process. ehcoactosin, an actin-binding protein of the adf/cofilin family, participates in actin dynamics, and here we report our studies of this protein using both structural and functional approaches. the x-ray crystal structure of ehcoactosin resembles that of hu ...	2014	25210743
immunity in urogenital protozoa.	innate and adaptive immunity play a significant role in urogenital infections. innate immunity is provided by the epithelial cells and mucus lining along with acidic ph, which forms a strong physical barrier against the pathogens in female reproductive tract. cells of innate immune system, antimicrobial peptides, cytokines, chemokines and adaptive immunity in the reproductive tract are evolved during infection, and a pro-inflammatory response is generated to fight against the invading pathogen t ...	2014	25201404
rnai pathway genes are resistant to small rna mediated gene silencing in the protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica.	the rna interference pathway in the protist entamoeba histolytica plays important roles in permanent gene silencing as well as in the regulation of virulence determinants. recently, a novel rna interference (rnai)-based silencing technique was developed in this parasite that uses a gene endogenously silenced by small rnas as a "trigger" to induce silencing of other genes that are fused to it. fusion to a trigger gene induces the production of gene-specific antisense small rnas, resulting in robu ...	2014	25198343
noninvasive intestinal amebiasis: entamoeba histolytica colonization without invasion.	entamoeba histolytica infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. although research with the organism began in the late nineteenth century, our understanding of the natural history of the infection remains incomplete and is heavily based on expert opinion. most persons infected with e. histolytica are carriers with the organism colonizing the large intestine. host defense mechanisms that prevent invasive diseases are poorly understood. a timely review could lead to rene ...	2014	25101557
serological surveillance development for tropical infectious diseases using simultaneous microsphere-based multiplex assays and finite mixture models.	a strategy to combat infectious diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (ntds), will depend on the development of reliable epidemiological surveillance methods. to establish a simple and practical seroprevalence detection system, we developed a microsphere-based multiplex immunoassay system and evaluated utility using samples obtained in kenya.	2014	25078404
regulation of gene expression in the protozoan parasite entamoeba invadens: identification of core promoter elements and promoters with stage-specific expression patterns.	developmental switching between life-cycle stages is a common feature among many pathogenic organisms. entamoeba histolytica is an important human pathogen and is a leading parasitic cause of death globally. during its life cycle, entamoeba converts between cysts (essential for disease transmission) and trophozoites (responsible for tissue invasion). despite being central to its biology, the triggers that are involved in the developmental pathways of this parasite are not well understood. in ord ...	2014	25075445
hypocholesterolemia in patients with an amebic liver abscess.	many parasites induce changes in the lipid profiles of the host. cholesterol increases the virulence of entamoeba histolytica in animal models and in vitro culture. this study aimed to determine, in patients with an amebic liver abscess, the correlation between cholesterol and other features, such as the size and number of abscesses, standard hematological and serum chemistry profiles, liver tests, and duration of hospital stay.	2014	25071907
amoebic anal fistula: new insight into an old disease.	a 67-year-old gentleman underwent fistulectomy for low trans-sphincteric anal fistula along with curettage for an associated abscess extending proximally for half a centimeter into the intersphincteric plane. the roof of the cavity became clearly visible after satisfactory culmination of the surgical procedure. histopathological examination of the fistulous tract and the curetted granulation tissue revealed presence of multiple trophozoites of entamoeba histolytica exhibiting erythrophagocytosis ...	2014	25053686
repurposing the open access malaria box to discover potent inhibitors of toxoplasma gondii and entamoeba histolytica.	toxoplasmosis and amebiasis are important public health concerns worldwide. the drugs currently available to control these diseases have proven limitations. therefore, innovative approaches should be adopted to identify and develop new leads from novel scaffolds exhibiting novel modes of action. in this paper, we describe results from the screening of compounds in the medicines for malaria venture (mmv) open access malaria box in a search for new anti-toxoplasma and anti-entamoeba agents. standa ...	2014	25049259
asymptomatic intestinal amebiasis in japanese hiv-1-infected individuals.	seventy-one asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus-1 (hiv-1) -infected individuals who underwent colonoscopy for detection of diseases other than amebiasis were included in this study. ulcerative lesions caused by entamoeba histolytica were identified by colonoscopy and biopsy in 11.3% (8 of 71) of individuals. stool microscopic examination hardly identified entamoeba, whereas serum antibody against e. histolytica was often elevated in patients with subclinical intestinal amebiasis. human leu ...	2014	25048374
dna extraction from protozoan oocysts/cysts in feces for diagnostic pcr.	pcr detection of intestinal protozoa is often restrained by a poor dna recovery or by inhibitors present in feces. the need for an extraction protocol that can overcome these obstacles is therefore clear. qiaamp® dna stool mini kit (qiagen) was evaluated for its ability to recover dna from oocysts/cysts directly from feces. twenty-five giardia-positive, 15 cryptosporidium-positive, 15 entamoeba histolytica-positive, and 45 protozoa-free samples were processed as control by microscopy and immunoa ...	2014	25031466
prevalence of cryptosporidiosis in renal transplant recipients presenting with acute diarrhea at a single center in pakistan.	cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan organism which causes diarrhea, both in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. renal transplant recipients are prone to develop a variety of infections including protozoal infections.	2014	25374881
structure-based identification of inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase from entamoeba histolytica.	inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase from entamoeba histolytica (ehippase) is an mg(2+)-dependent and li(+)-sensitive enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of inositol 1,4-bisphosphate [ins(1,4)p2] into myo-inositol 1-monophosphate and po4(3-). in the present work, ehippase has been biochemically identified and its crystal structure has been determined in the presence of mg(2+) and po4(3-) at 2.5 å resolution. this enzyme was previously classified as a 3'(2'),5'-bisphosphate nucleotidase in the n ...	2014	25372691
mass spectrometric analysis of l-cysteine metabolism: physiological role and fate of l-cysteine in the enteric protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica.	l-cysteine is essential for virtually all living organisms, from bacteria to higher eukaryotes. besides having a role in the synthesis of virtually all proteins and of taurine, cysteamine, glutathione, and other redox-regulating proteins, l-cysteine has important functions under anaerobic/microaerophilic conditions. in anaerobic or microaerophilic protozoan parasites, such as entamoeba histolytica, l-cysteine has been implicated in growth, attachment, survival, and protection from oxidative stre ...	2014	25370494
bone marrow dendritic cells from mice with an altered microbiota provide interleukin 17a-dependent protection against entamoeba histolytica colitis.	there is an emerging paradigm that the human microbiome is central to many aspects of health and may have a role in preventing enteric infection. entamoeba histolytica is a major cause of amebic diarrhea in developing countries. it colonizes the colon lumen in close proximity to the gut microbiota. interestingly, not all individuals are equally susceptible to e. histolytica infection. therefore, as the microbiota is highly variable within individuals, we sought to determine if a component of the ...	2014	25370489
duplex microfluidic sers detection of pathogen antigens with nanoyeast single-chain variable fragments.	quantitative and accurate detection of multiple biomarkers would allow for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of diseases induced by pathogens. monoclonal antibodies are standard affinity reagents applied for biomarkers detection; however, their production is expensive and labor-intensive. herein, we report on newly developed nanoyeast single-chain variable fragments (nyscfv) as an attractive alternative to monoclonal antibodies, which offers the unique advantage of a cost-effective production, s ...	2014	25192256
[the current view of the diagnosis and management of amebiasis in the light of the authors own case reports].	this comprehensive review is focused on a serious protozoan disease, amebiasis. this disease is caused by the human parasite entamoeba histolytica (e. histolytica), the second leading cause of mortality due to protozoan disease worldwide (the leading cause is malaria). the incidence of amebiasis in the czech republic is very low, but it may be underreported as the disease often escapes diagnosis. intestinal colonisation by e. histolytica may be asymptomatic. the clinical picture ranges from diar ...	2014	25412488
the macrophage migration inhibitory factor homolog of entamoeba histolytica binds to and immunomodulates host macrophages.	the host inflammatory response contributes to the tissue damage that occurs during amebic colitis, with tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-α) being a key mediator of the gut inflammation observed. mammalian macrophage migration inhibitory factor (mif) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the exacerbation of a wide range of inflammatory diseases, including colitis. we identified a mif gene homolog in the entamoeba histolytica genome, raising the question of whether e. histo ...	2014	24818664
conformational changes induced by detergents during the refolding of chemically denatured cysteine protease ppehcp-b9 from entamoeba histolytica.	ehcp-b9, a cysteine protease (cp) involved in entamoeba histolytica virulence, is a potential target for disease diagnosis and drug design. after purification from inclusion bodies produced in escherichia coli, the recombinant ehcp-b9 precursor (ppehcp-b9) can be refolded using detergents as artificial chaperones. however, the conformational changes that occur during ppehcp-b9 refolding remain unknown. here, we comprehensively describe conformational changes of ppehcp-b9 that are induced by vari ...	2014	24769005
new evidence of entamoeba histolytica infections in pre-columbian and colonial cemeteries in the caribbean.	elisa was used to test the presence of the human pathogenic amoeba entamoeba histolytica in archaeological samples from 2 cemeteries in guadeloupe, in the caribbean. results show that 15.9% of the population was infected during the colonial period, a value comparable to the current rates observed in humans in adjacent countries. this study also confirms the presence of the current strain of e. histolytica in pre-columbian south america before the european colonization in the 15th century and rai ...	2014	24766261
an uncommon case of hepatopulmonary amoebiasis.	amoebiasis is an uncommon infection in developed countries caused by the protozoan entamoeba histolytica. amoebic liver abscess is the most frequent extraintestinal presentation of the disease; pleuropulmonary involvement is rare, occurring mostly by rupture of the abscess into the pleural space or lung parenchyma. we describe a case of a 48-year-old migrant from são tomé e príncipe, with fever, wasting, dry cough and right upper abdominal pain for the past 2 months. the ct scan revealed a volum ...	2014	25155487
flavodiiron oxygen reductase from entamoeba histolytica: modulation of substrate preference by tyrosine 271 and lysine 53.	flavodiiron proteins (fdps) are a family of enzymes endowed with bona fide oxygen- and/or nitric-oxide reductase activity, although their substrate specificity determinants remain elusive. after a comprehensive comparison of available three-dimensional structures, particularly of fdps with a clear preference toward either o2 or no, two main differences were identified near the diiron active site, which led to the construction of site-directed mutants of tyr(271) and lys(53) in the oxygen reducin ...	2014	25151360
in vitro antiamoebic activity evaluation and docking studies of metronidazole-triazole hybrids.	an in-house database of 520 compounds was docked against entamoeba histolytica thioredoxin reductase (ehtrr), a promising target for the treatment of amoebiasis. amongst these, some metronidazole (mtz)-triazole hybrids were ranked high, with docking scores from -10.23 to -7.56. studies of the binding orientations and conformations show that the head groups of mtz-triazole hybrids interact with the arginine residues within the binding pocket of ehtrr, making it clear that such is the optimal and ...	2014	25146853
genetic analysis of enterobius vermicularis isolated from a chimpanzee with lethal hemorrhagic colitis and pathology of the associated lesions.	human pinworms, enterobius vermicularis, are normally recognized as minor pathogens. however, a fatal case of human pinworm infection has been reported in a nonhuman primate, a zoo reared chimpanzee. here, we histopathologically examined the lesions in tissues from the deceased chimpanzee and genetically characterized the isolated worms to investigate the pathogenicity and determine the phylogeny. we identified ulcers deep in the submucosa where many parasites were found to have invaded the lami ...	2014	25138069
genetic variability of the serine-rich entamoeba histolytica protein gene in clinical isolates from the united arab emirates.	the genetic diversity of 20 entamoeba histolytica isolates from asymptomatic individuals from the uae was investigated by analyzing polymorphism in the serine-rich e. histolytica gene (srehp) by nested polymerase chain reaction (pcr) amplification followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (rflp) on dna extracted directly from stool samples. the srehp gene was successfully amplified in 15 out of 20 e. histolytica-positive samples. four out of the remaining five isolates did not amplify ...	2014	25134907
proteomic analysis of entamoeba histolytica in vivo assembled pre-mrna splicing complexes.	the genome of the human intestinal parasite entamoeba histolytica contains nearly 3000 introns and bioinformatic predictions indicate that major and minor spliceosomes occur in entamoeba. however, except for the u2-, u4-, u5- and u6 snrnas, no other splicing factor has been cloned and characterized. here, we ha-tagged cloned the snrnp component u1a and assessed its expression and nuclear localization. because the snrnp-free u1a form interacts with polyadenylate-binding protein, ha-u1a immunoprec ...	2014	25109466
amoebicidal activity of essential oil of dysphania ambrosioides (l.) mosyakin & clemants in an amoebic liver abscess hamster model.	amebiasis is a parasitic disease that extends worldwide and is a public health problem in developing countries. metronidazole is the drug recommended in the treatment of amebiasis, but its contralateral effects and lack of continuity of treatment induce low efficiency, coupled with the appearance of resistant amoebic strains. therefore, the search of new compounds with amoebicidal activity is urgent and important. in this study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antiamoebic activity of the e ...	2014	24757495
genital infection caused by entamoeba histolytica confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analyses.	entamoeba histolytica is estimated to infect approximately 1% of the global population. in japan, the prevalence of amebic dysentery has been increasing, with more than 800 patients newly diagnosed annually. however, genital infection with e. histolytica is uncommon even in endemic areas. we present a case of vaginitis caused by e. histolytica. a 50-year-old japanese woman without history of overseas travel presented to a nearby clinic with increased vaginal discharge. she had hemorrhagic erosio ...	2014	24750396
water-soluble ruthenium complexes bearing activity against protozoan parasites.	parasitic illnesses are major causes of human disease and misery worldwide. among them, both amebiasis and chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasites, entamoeba histolytica and trypanosoma cruzi, are responsible for thousands of annual deaths. the lack of safe and effective chemotherapy and/or the appearance of current drug resistance make the development of novel pharmacological tools for their treatment relevant. in this sense, within the framework of the medicinal inorganic chemistry, ...	2014	24740394
proteomic profiling reveals that ehpc4 transcription factor induces cell migration through up-regulation of the 16-kda actin-binding protein ehabp16 in entamoeba histolytica.	actin cytoskeleton is an essential structure involved in cell migration and invasion in parasites. in entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan parasite causing human amoebiasis, the mechanisms underlying the expression of migration-related genes are poorly understood. here, we investigated the biological effects of ectopic overexpression of ehpc4 (positive coactivator 4) in cell migration of e. histolytica trophozoites. using differential in gel two-dimensional electrophoresis, 33 modulated proteins ...	2014	24721673
naegleria fowleri: contact-dependent secretion of electrondense granules (edg).	the free living amoeba naegleria fowleri is pathogenic to humans but also to other mammalians. these amoebae may invade the nasal mucosa and migrate into the brain causing cerebral hemorrhagic necrosis, a rapidly fatal infection. knowledge of the cytolytic mechanism involved in the destruction of brain tissues by naegleria trophozoites is limited. in other amoebic species, such as entamoeba histolytica, we have previously reported the possible lytic role of small cytoplasmic components endowed w ...	2014	24721258
unusual findings in appendectomy specimens of adults: retrospective analyses of 1466 patients and a review of literature.	diseases and tumors of the appendix vermiformis are very rare, except acute appendicitis.	2014	24719727
trogocytosis by entamoeba histolytica contributes to cell killing and tissue invasion.	entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebiasis, a potentially fatal diarrhoeal disease in the developing world. the parasite was named "histolytica" for its ability to destroy host tissues, which is probably driven by direct killing of human cells. the mechanism of human cell killing has been unclear, although the accepted model was that the parasites use secreted toxic effectors to kill cells before ingestion. here we report the discovery that amoebae kill by ingesting distinct piec ...	2014	24717428
production of recombinant entamoeba histolytica pyruvate phosphate dikinase and its application in a lateral flow dipstick test for amoebic liver abscess.	amoebic liver abscess (ala) is the most common clinical manifestation of extraintestinal amoebiasis especially in developing countries, causing up to 100 000 fatal cases annually. accurate and early diagnosis is important to prevent the disease complications, however its diagnosis still poses many challenges due to the limitations of the available detection tools. pyruvate phosphate dikinase (ppdk), an excretory-secretory protein of e. histolytica, has been reported as a potential diagnostic mar ...	2014	24708664
the awareness of health professionals in diagnostic techniques for intestinal parasites in gaza strip, palestine.	diagnosis of intestinal parasites still depends on conventional methods in gaza strip hospitals and private laboratories.	2014	24669336
amebic liver abscess: fine needle aspiration diagnosis.	to describe the findings in fine needle aspiration (fna) of an amebic liver abscess (ala).	2014	24662424
parasitic infections of the appendix as a cause of appendectomy in adult patients.	assessment of frequency and clinical findings of parasitic infections for etiology of acute appendicitis.	2014	24659695
recent advances in molecular biology of parasitic viruses.	the numerous protozoa that can inhabit the human gastro-intestinal tract are known, yet little is understood of the viruses which infect these protozoa. the discovery, morphologic details, purification methods of virus-like particles, genome and proteome of the parasitic viruses, entamoeba histolytica, giardia lamblia, trichomonas vaginalis, and the eimeria sp. are described in this review. the protozoan viruses share many common features: most of them are rna or double-stranded rna viruses, ran ...	2014	25019235
entamoeba histolytica adaptation to glucose starvation: a matter of life and death.	parasites are often challenged by constant changes of the glucose concentration in their different hosts and/or within the different biotopes in the same host. during its life cycle, entamoeba histolytica, the causative protozoan parasite of human amoebiasis, is exposed to both a glucose-poor environment in the colon and a glucose-rich environment in the liver. high-throughput 'omics' technologies are now widely used to characterize the cell's global response to various stresses and these techno ...	2014	25016247
differential expression and immunolocalization of antioxidant enzymes in entamoeba histolytica isolates during metronidazole stress.	entamoeba histolytica infections are endemic in the indian subcontinent. five to eight percent of urban population residing under poor sanitary conditions suffers from entamoeba infections. metronidazole is the most widely prescribed drug used for amoebiasis. in order to understand the impact of metronidazole stress on the parasite, we evaluated the expression of two antioxidant enzymes, peroxiredoxin and fesod, in entamoeba histolytica isolates during metronidazole stress. the results reveal th ...	2014	25013795
crystallization and preliminary x-ray analysis of rabx3, a tandem gtpase from entamoeba histolytica.	ras superfamily gtpases regulate signalling pathways that control multiple biological processes by modulating the gtp/gdp cycle. various rab gtpases, which are the key regulators of vesicular trafficking pathways, play a vital role in the survival and virulence of the enteric parasite entamoeba histolytica. the rab gtpases act as binary molecular switches that utilize the conformational changes associated with the gtp/gdp cycle to elicit responses from target proteins and thereby regulate a broa ...	2014	25005092
structural elucidation of a dual-activity pap phosphatase-1 from entamoeba histolytica capable of hydrolysing both 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate and inositol 1,4-bisphosphate.	the enzyme 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphatase-1 (pap phosphatase-1) is a member of the li(+)-sensitive mg(2+)-dependent phosphatase superfamily, or inositol monophosphatase (impase) superfamily, and is an important regulator of the sulfate-activation pathway in all living organisms. inhibition of this enzyme leads to accumulation of the toxic byproduct 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphate (pap), which could be lethal to the organism. genomic analysis of entamoeba histolytica suggests the presence of ...	2014	25004978
regulation of virulence of entamoeba histolytica.	entamoeba histolytica is the third-leading cause of parasitic mortality globally. e. histolytica infection generally does not cause symptoms, but the parasite has potent pathogenic potential. the origins, benefits, and triggers of amoebic virulence are complex. amoebic pathogenesis entails depletion of the host mucosal barrier, adherence to the colonic lumen, cytotoxicity, and invasion of the colonic epithelium. parasite damage results in colitis and, in some cases, disseminated disease. both ho ...	2014	25002094
proteomic analysis identifies endoribouclease ehl-psp and ehrrp41 exosome protein as novel interactors of ehcaf1 deadenylase.	in higher eukaryotic cells mrna degradation initiates by poly(a) tail shortening catalyzed by deadenylases caf1 and ccr4. in spite of the key role of mrna turnover in gene expression regulation, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood in parasites. here, we aimed to study the function of ehcaf1 and identify associated proteins in entamoeba histolytica. by biochemical assays, we evidenced that ehcaf1 has both rna binding and deadenylase activities in vitro. ehcaf1 was located in cytopl ...	2014	24998979
liver abscess in the tropics: an experience from jammu.	to study the various types of liver abscesses. this prospective study was conducted over a period of one year, from november 2011 to october 2012, at the department of general surgery in acharya shri chander college of medical sciences and hospital sidhra, jammu.	2014	24996785
balantidiosis: a rare accidental finding in the urine of a patient with acute renal failure.	balantidium coli is the only ciliated protozoan which is known to infect human and nonhuman primates. route of infection is faecal-oral route. it is actively motile and causes mostly asymptomatic infections, or it may develop dysentery which is similar to that which is caused by entamoeba histolytica. here, we are describing a case of an accidental finding of b.coli in the urine of a patient who presented with acute renal failure, based on its characteristic morphology and motility which were se ...	2014	24995185
modified pehps medium as an alternative for the in vitro culture of giardia lamblia.	commercial culture media present interlot variations in biological activity. we have previously designed a homemade and economic culture medium, pehps medium, for the axenic cultivation of entamoeba histolytica and trichomonas vaginalis. trophozoites of amoebae and trichomonads grow well in this medium. furthermore, the medium is stable for several months when stored frozen or refrigerated. the objective of this work was to modify pehps medium to support the in vitro growth of giardia lamblia. i ...	2014	24982905
antiprotozoal activity of 8-acyl and 8-alkyl incomptine a analogs.	the activities of 11 c-8-o-acyl and alkyl analogs of the antiprotozoal sesquiterpene lactone, incomptine a (1) against entamoeba histolytica and giardia lamblia, were determined. here, the effects of different lengths and amounts of branching of the acyl and alkyl groups on the antiprotozoal activity of the synthesized incomptine a-analogs are reported.	2014	24974343
in vitro genotoxic and mutagenic evaluation of the aqueous extract of codiaeum variegatum and its amoebicidal sub-fraction.	codiaeum variegatum, grown in many varieties, has been widely used as a houseplant based on its brightly decorative foliage. in addition, a variety of this plant has been used for a long time against bloody diarrhea by the local population in cameroon.	2014	24971796
analysis of the epithelial damage produced by entamoeba histolytica infection.	entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human amoebiasis, a major cause of diarrhea and hepatic abscess in tropical countries. infection is initiated by interaction of the pathogen with intestinal epithelial cells. this interaction leads to disruption of intercellular structures such as tight junctions (tj). tj ensure sealing of the epithelial layer to separate host tissue from gut lumen. recent studies provide evidence that disruption of tj by the parasitic protein ehcpadh112 is a prere ...	2014	24962382
ip6k structure and the molecular determinants of catalytic specificity in an inositol phosphate kinase family.	inositol trisphosphate kinases (ip3ks) and inositol hexakisphosphate kinases (ip6ks) each regulate specialized signalling activities by phosphorylating either insp3 or insp6 respectively. the molecular basis for these different kinase activities can be illuminated by a structural description of ip6k. here we describe the crystal structure of an entamoeba histolytica hybrid ip6k/ip3k, an enzymatic parallel to a 'living fossil'. through molecular modelling and mutagenesis, we extrapolated our find ...	2014	24956979
metabolomic analysis of entamoeba: applications and implications.	entamoeba histolytica is an enteric protozoan parasite that causes hemorrhagic dysentery and extraintestinal abscesses in millions of inhabitants of endemic areas. the genome of e. histolytica has already been sequenced and used to predict the metabolic potential of the organism. since nearly 56% of the e. histolytica genes remain unannotated, correlative 'omics' analyses of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and biochemical metabolic profiling are essential in uncovering new, or poorly unde ...	2014	24950028
inferior vena cava thrombosis in a case of amoebic liver abscess: is hypercomplementemia responsible for this rare entity?	among the liver abscesses, thrombosis of the inferior vena cava (ivc) has been reported mainly in amoebic liver abscess (ala) caused by entamoeba histolytica (e.h). it is an unusual complication especially in paediatric age group. association of hypercomplementemia and ivc thrombosis has not been discussed previously. published data suggest that e.h can activate the complement system and can cause hypercomplementemia. a very few studies suggest that complement activation and hypercomplementemia ...	2014	24943781
destabilization domain approach adapted for regulated protein expression in the protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica.	a plethora of information has been gained by sequencing the genome of the human parasite entamoeba histolytica, however a lack of robust genetic tools hampers experimental elucidation of gene functions. we adapted the destabilization domain approach for modulation of protein levels in e. histolytica using the destabilization domains of fk506 binding protein (ddfkbp) and dihydrofolate reductase (dddhfr), respectively. in our studies, the ddfkbp appears to be more tightly regulated than dddhfr, wi ...	2014	24929134
atomic resolution crystal structure of vclmwptp-1 from vibrio cholerae o395: insights into a novel mode of dimerization in the low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase family.	low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (lmwptp) is a group of phosphotyrosine phosphatase ubiquitously found in a wide range of organisms ranging from bacteria to mammals. dimerization in the lmwptp family has been reported earlier which follows a common mechanism involving active site residues leading to an enzymatically inactive species. here we report a novel form of dimerization in a lmwptp from vibrio cholera 0395 (vclmwptp-1). studies in solution reveal the existence of the dime ...	2014	24909685
ligand heterogeneity of the cysteine protease binding protein family in the parasitic protist entamoeba histolytica.	lysosomal soluble proteins are targeted to endosomes and lysosomes by specific receptors resident in the endoplasmic reticulum and/or the golgi apparatus. the enteric protozoan parasite entamoeba histolytica has a novel class of lysosomal targeting receptors, named the cysteine protease binding protein family (cpbf). among 11 cpbfs (cpbf1-11), ligands for three members, cpbf1, cpbf6 and cpbf8, were previously shown to be cysteine proteases, α- and γ- amylases, and β-hexosaminidase and lysozymes, ...	2014	24907554
ultrastructural characteristics and molecular identification of entamoeba suis isolated from pigs with hemorrhagic colitis: implications for pathogenicity.	protozoan parasites of the genus entamoeba infect many classes of vertebrates and are primarily classified based on morphological criteria. to date, only a few species have been proven to cause disease. here, we examined the pathology of infected pigs with hemorrhage and detected entamoeba parasites. isolates were characterized genetically and ultrastructurally to identify the species. histopathologically, bleeding and thrombus formation were seen only in the large intestine mucosa, where a larg ...	2014	24894081
the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin affects cytoskeleton proteins and functions in entamoeba histolytica.	human amoebiasis is an intestinal disease with a global distribution. due to reports of parasite resistance or susceptibility reduction to metronidazole treatment, there is a renewed interest for the search of new molecules with antiamoebic activity. the flavonoid (-)-epicatechin that was isolated from the mexican medicinal plant geranium mexicanum hbk has an in vitro activity against e. histolytica trophozoites, however its molecular effects have been poorly documented. using a proteomic approa ...	2014	24887480
structural and mutational analysis of amino acid residues involved in atp specificity of escherichia coli acetate kinase.	acetate kinase (ak) generally utilizes atp as a phosphoryl donor, but ak from entamoeba histolytica (ppi-ehiak) uses pyrophosphate (ppi), not atp, and is ppi-specific. the determinants of the phosphoryl donor specificity are unknown. here, we inferred 5 candidate amino acid residues associated with this specificity, based on structural information. each candidate residue in escherichia coli atp-specific ak (atp-ecoak), which is unable to use ppi, was substituted with the respective ppi-ehiak ami ...	2014	24856051
epidemiological features of intestinal infection with entamoeba histolytica in taiwan, 2002-2010.	amebiasis remains an important public health problem worldwide, and immigration and an increase in international travel have affected the incident cases of the disease. the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of entamoeba histolytica in taiwan between 2002 and 2010. we analyzed data from surveillance programs run by the centers for disease control, taiwan (taiwan cdc), and only laboratory-confirmed cases were analyzed. in total, 1796 cases with e. histolytica infections were inclu ...	2014	24837854
peroxynitrite and peroxiredoxin in the pathogenesis of experimental amebic liver abscess.	the molecular mechanisms by which entamoeba histolytica causes amebic liver abscess (ala) are still not fully understood. amebic mechanisms of adherence and cytotoxic activity are pivotal for amebic survival but apparently do not directly cause liver abscess. abundant evidence indicates that chronic inflammation (resulting from an inadequate immune response) is probably the main cause of ala. reports referring to inflammatory mechanisms of liver damage mention a repertoire of toxic molecules by ...	2014	24822193
hsp90 inhibitors as new leads to target parasitic diarrheal diseases.	entamoeba histolytica and giardia lamblia are anaerobic protozoan parasites that cause amebiasis and giardiasis, two of the most common diarrheal diseases worldwide. current therapy relies on metronidazole, but resistance has been reported and the drug has significant adverse effects. therefore, it is critical to search for effective, better-tolerated antiamebic and antigiardial drugs. we synthesized several examples of a recently reported class of hsp90 inhibitors and evaluated these compounds ...	2014	24820073
differential diagnosis of entamoeba spp. in clinical stool samples using sybr green real-time polymerase chain reaction.	amoebiasis, a disease caused by entamoeba histolytica, is usually diagnosed by microscopic examination, which does not differentiate the morphologically identical species of the e. histolytica/e. dispar complex. furthermore, morphologically similar species such as entamoeba hartmanni contribute to misidentification. therefore, there is a need for more sensitive and specific methods. this study standardized a multiplex real-time pcr system for e. histolytica and e. dispar and a single real-time p ...	2014	24693242
discrimination of entamoeba spp. in children with dysentery.	the present study was performed in order to differentiate e. histolytica and e. dispar in children from gorgan city, using a pcr method.	2014	25120897
erythrophagocytosis in entamoeba histolytica and entamoeba dispar: a comparative study.	entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of human intestinal and liver amebiasis. the extraordinary phagocytic activity of e. histolytica trophozoites has been accepted as one of the virulence mechanisms responsible for their invasive capacity. the recognition of the noninvasive entamoeba dispar as a different species has raised the question as to whether the lack of pathogenic potential of this ameba correlates with a limited phagocytic capacity. we have therefore compared the process of er ...	2014	25003123
entamoeba dispar: a rare case of enteritis in a patient living in a nonendemic area.	entamoeba dispar, a common noninvasive parasite, is indistinguishable in its cysts and trophozoite forms from entamoeba histolytica, the cause of invasive amebiasis, by microscopy. to differentiate the two species seems to be a problem for laboratory diagnosis. recent experimental studies showed that e. dispar can be considered pathogenic too. we present a rare case of enteritis due to e. dispar.	2014	24851190
frequency of amoebiasis and other intestinal parasitoses in a settlement in ilhéus city, state of bahia, brazil.	this study evaluated the frequency of intestinal parasites, emphasizing the identification and differentiation of entamoeba spp.	2014	24553799
[comparison of direct microscopy, culture, elisa and molecular methods for diagnosis of entamoeba histolytica].	amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by entamoeba histolytica, is one of the most common parasitic infections worldwide. since it is still an important public health problem in developing countries, rapid differential diagnosis of amebiasis is crucial in terms of treatment. the most frequently used method for laboratory diagnosis is direct microscopy, however more reliable and specific methods are needed in order to differentiate the apathogenic entamoeba dispar under the microscope. this stu ...	2014	24506721
entamoeba bangladeshi: an insight.	molecular tools have the potential to differentiate microscopically similar gut micro-eukaryotes that may have significantly different relationships with the human host. using broad range entamoeba primers to amplify a section of the eukaryotic 18s small subunit ribosomal rna gene a novel member of the entamoeba family (entamoeba bangladeshi) has recently been identified. the goal of this review is to place this species in the context of what is already known about this genus and to discuss the ...	2014	25250229
laboratory methods of identification of entamoeba histolytica and its differentiation from look-alike entamoeba spp.	entamoeba histolytica, the causative agent of intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis, is a common parasitic cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. hence, early detection and differentiation of pathogenic e. histolytica from nonpathogenic/commensal entamoeba spp (entamoeba dispar/entamoeba moshkovskii/entamoeba bangladeshi) plays a crucial role in clinical management of patients with amebiasis. most diagnostic tests currently available do not reliably differen ...	2014	25250228
molecular detection of entamoeba histolytica and entamoeba dispar infection among wild rats in kuala lumpur, malaysia.	entamoeba histolytica infection is the third-greatest parasitic disease responsible for death in the world. wild rats harbouring e. histolytica can be the possible reservoir hosts for human amoebiasis. there were numerous studies on prevalence of intestinal parasites among wild rats in malaysia but none has reported e. histolytica. rats were captured from sentul and chow kit areas, kuala lumpur, malaysia. the preserved stool samples were used for microscopy examination and molecular analysis. ou ...	2014	25776597
parasitic infections on the shore of lake victoria (east africa) detected by mini-flotac and standard techniques.	helminths and protozoa infections pose a great burden especially in developing countries, due to morbidity caused by both acute and chronic infection. the aim of our survey was to analyze the intestinal parasitic burden in communities from mwanza region, tanzania.	2014	24865791
parasitic infections based on 320 clinical samples submitted to hanyang university, korea (2004-2011).	we analyzed 320 clinical samples of parasitic infections submitted to the department of environmental biology and medical parasitology, hanyang university from january 2004 to june 2011. they consisted of 211 nematode infections, 64 trematode or cestode infections, 32 protozoan infections, and 13 infections with arthropods. the nematode infections included 67 cases of trichuriasis, 62 of anisakiasis (anisakis sp. and pseudoterranova decipiens), 40 of enterobiasis, and 24 of ascariasis, as well a ...	2014	24850969
prevalence and risk factors for intestinal parasites in food handlers, southern brazil.	in this study, the prevalence and risk factors for enteroparasites were determined in food handlers from maringá, paraná state, southern brazil. fecal and subungual materials of 150 street food vendors were analyzed by the methods of lutz, faust, and mello, respectively. a questionnaire on hygiene and sanitary conditions of the workplace and of domicile was applied. the prevalence of enteroparasites was 28%, and the protozoa infection was more expressive (21.3%) than by helminths (6.7%), but wit ...	2014	24256564
correlation between genotypes of trna-linked short tandem repeats in entamoeba nuttalli isolates and the geographical distribution of host rhesus macaques.	several polymorphic markers, including serine-rich protein genes, have been used for the genotyping of isolates from the morphologically indistinguishable protozoan parasites entamoeba histolytica, entamoeba dispar, and entamoeba nuttalli. genotypes of trna-linked short tandem repeats (strs) are highly polymorphic, but the correlation with geographical distribution is unknown. we have recently isolated 15 e. nuttalli strains from wild rhesus macaques in four locations in kathmandu valley, nepal. ...	2014	24185530
detection of intestinal protozoa in the clinical laboratory.	despite recent advances in diagnostic technology, microscopic examination of stool specimens remains central to the diagnosis of most pathogenic intestinal protozoa. microscopy is, however, labor-intensive and requires a skilled technologist. new, highly sensitive diagnostic methods have been developed for protozoa endemic to developed countries, including giardia lamblia (syn. g. intestinalis/g. duodenalis) and cryptosporidium spp., using technologies that, if expanded, could effectively comple ...	2014	24197877
a comparative survey of the prevalence of human parasites found in fresh vegetables sold in supermarkets and open-aired markets in accra, ghana.	consuming raw vegetables offers essential nutrients that one may not get when such vegetables are usually cooked. however, eating them raw may pose a great risk for transmissions of pathogens. such risks may be influenced by the sources of the vegetables and washing techniques used. the aim of the study was to compare the prevalence and diversity of parasitic pathogens associated with vegetables sold at the two types of markets in ghana and compare effectiveness of various washing techniques.	2014	25424391
immuno-pcr for detection of giardia lamblia cysts in water.	giardia lamblia cysts at low concentrations were detected in water samples using a highly sensitive immunological-pcr (ipcr) method. magnetic gold particles were precoated with monoclonal anti-giardia antibodies, and giardia lamblia cysts ranging from 1 to 100 cysts were diluted in 500 microl of water. a biotinylated detection antibody bound to the g. lamblia cysts was then linked by a streptavidin bridge to biotinylated giardia-reporter dna. after extensive washing, reporter dna was released by ...	2014	24830167
longitudinal evaluation of enteric protozoa in haitian children by stool exam and multiplex serologic assay.	haitian children were monitored longitudinally in a filariasis study. included were stool samples examined for giardia intestinalis and entamoeba histolytica cysts, and serum specimens analyzed for immunoglobulin g (igg) responses to eight recombinant antigens from g. intestinalis (variant-specific surface protein [vsp1-vsp5]), e. histolytica (lectin adhesion molecule [leca]), and cryptosporidium parvum (17- and 27-kda) using a multiplex bead assay. the igg responses to vsp antigens peaked at 2 ...	2014	24591430
[analysis on parasitic infection of clinical samples from hospitals in shanghai during 2011-2013].	to analyze the results of parasitic pathogen detection on clinical samples from shanghai hospitals during 2011-2013.	2014	25902676
highly divergent mitochondrion-related organelles in anaerobic parasitic protozoa.	the mitochondria have arisen as a consequence of endosymbiosis of an ancestral α-proteobacterium with a methane-producing archae. the main function of the canonical aerobic mitochondria include atp generation via oxidative phosphorylation, heme and phospholipid synthesis, calcium homeostasis, programmed cell death, and the formation of iron-sulfur clusters. under oxygen-restricted conditions, the mitochondrion has often undergone remarkable reductive alterations of its content and function, lead ...	2014	24316280