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Cryptosporidium: Current State of Genomics and Systems Biological Research

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Cryptosporidium: parasite and disease

Abstract

Recent years have seen an unprecedented expansion in our knowledge of Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis through the emergence of the genomics and systems biological age. High-quality draft genome sequences are now published for C. parvum and C. hominis, and the draft assembly of C. muris has been made publicly available. These genome sequences reveal a highly stream-lined parasite with limited metabolic and biosynthetic pathways and a heavy reliance on the host-cell. Bottlenecks in these pathways may be exploited for new drugs, which remain stubbornly illusive for these parasites. As more genomic information becomes available, fundamental research into gene regulation, genomic evolution and genome-wide variation becomes possible. This research will provide new insights into the transmission dynamics of these parasites and markers associated with host-specificity, virulence and pathogenicity, and will allow the identification of novel loci for use as molecular-diagnostic markers and genes under heavy immunoselection, potentially providing a basis for vaccine development. With the accelerating reduction in costs associated with ‘omic’ research, improved accessibility to analytical tools and in vitro culture of Cryptospordium, this field has tremendous potential to shape our understanding of their biology in the coming years.

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Acknowledgements

Grant support from the Australian Research Council, Melbourne Water Corporation and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia

    Aaron R. Jex

  2. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Robin B. Gasser

Authors
  1. Aaron R. Jex
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  2. Robin B. Gasser
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Correspondence to Aaron R. Jex .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy

    Simone M. Cacciò

  2. Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases, North Grafton, Massachusetts, USA

    Giovanni Widmer

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Jex, A.R., Gasser, R.B. (2014). Cryptosporidium: Current State of Genomics and Systems Biological Research. In: Cacciò, S., Widmer, G. (eds) Cryptosporidium: parasite and disease. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1562-6_6

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