Genomic Heterogeneity of Cryptosporidium parvum Isolates From Children in Bangladesh: Implications for Parasite Biology and Human Infection

J Infect Dis. 2023 Nov 2;228(9):1292-1298. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiad257.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium species are a major cause of diarrhea and associated with growth failure. There is currently only limited knowledge of the parasite's genomic variability. We report a genomic analysis of Cryptosporidium parvum isolated from Bangladeshi infants and reanalysis of sequences from the United Kingdom. Human isolates from both locations shared 154 variants not present in the cattle-derived reference genome, suggesting host-specific adaptation of the parasite. Remarkably 34.6% of single-nucleotide polymorphisms unique to human isolates were nonsynonymous and 8.2% of these were in secreted proteins. Linkage disequilibrium decay indicated frequent recombination. The genetic diversity of C. parvum has potential implications for vaccine and therapeutic design. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT02764918.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium; SNPs; genome sequences; parasite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bangladesh / epidemiology
  • Cattle
  • Child
  • Cryptosporidiosis* / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidiosis* / parasitology
  • Cryptosporidium parvum* / genetics
  • Cryptosporidium*
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Parasites*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02764918