Identification and characterisation of molecules involved in the pathogenicity of Entamoeba histolytica

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Iris Bruchhaus
• Subject Area: Parasitology and Biology of Tropical Infectious Disease Pathogens
• Term: from 2009 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 98301232

Entamoeba histolytica is known for it´s extraordinary capacity to efficiently destroy human tissues, leading to invasive diseases such as ulcerative colitis or extraintestinal abscesses. Various molecules have been considered important for amoeba pathogenicity. However, all these activities are present in pathogenic as well as in non-pathogenic amoeba isolates, calling into question the importance of these molecules for E. histolytica pathogenicity. We recently identified two syngenic clones (A and B) derived from the widely used laboratory E. histolytica strain HM-1:IMSS, which consistently differ in virulence. Clone A is incapable to induce liver abscesses when injected into rodents, whereas a relatively small number of cells from clone B are able to provoke large abscesses. The major goal of this study is to identify molecules that are responsible for the pathogenicity of E. histolytica. Therefore, a tripartite strategy is chosen that comprises: (i) DNA-microarray and proteome analysis of the two E. histolytica clones, (ii) functional analysis of candidate genes using transgenic amoebae, (iii) focussing on an interesting new family of genes that include numerous differentially expressed candidate genes already identified. The combination of molecular and biochemical studies using the two different amoeba clones as well as the introduction of transgenic amoebae may allow to unravel the molecular basis that determines E. histolytica pathogenicity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Hannelore Lotter