The sequencing of the genome of the protozoan parasite
Cryptosporidium parvum is a joint effort between the
Advanced Genetics Analysis Center, University of Minnesota and the
Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology,(UK).
The University of Minnesota has conducted a random shotgun approach to obtain the complete DNA sequence of the Iowa isolate of C. parvum. Source material was purified from parasite oocysts from the feces of infected calves, using a continuous sucrose gradient. Purified DNA was randomly sheared to construct a 2-5 kb genomic library, which was sequenced to 13X coverage. In addition to this effort, end-sequencing of large-insert genomic clones will provide a scaffold to verify DNA assembly.
The C.parvum nuclear genome is approximately 10.4 Mb, organized in eight chromosomes with sizes varying from 1.04 to 1.5 Mb. Surprisingly, unlike most Apicomplexa, C. parvum appears to lack a plastid genome.
The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology has completed a physical map of the Iowa isolate of C.parvum , and sequencing and analysis of Chromosome 6. Sequence analysis of this chromosome revealed little synteny and protein similarity with Plasmodium, another Apicomplexan parasite.
All sequence data from C. parvum has been submitted to GenBank CM000429:CM000436.
Analysis of the C. parvum genome will provide information regarding genome structure and organization, host-parasite interaction and pathogenesis, and the development of drug and vaccine targets. Less...