GENOMIC RESOURCES FOR CRYPTOSPORIDIUM SPECIES, HUMAN PATHOGENS OF PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Date
2017
Authors
Ifeonu, Olukemi O
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Abstract
Cryptosporidium species are intracellular protozoan parasites, members of the phylum Apicomplexa that can infect the intestinal or gastric epithelial tissue of vertebrates, causing diarrhea. In immunocompromised individuals and young children, cryptosporidiosis can be life-threatening. Cryptosporidium was recently identified as a major cause of diarrhea-induced death of young children in developing countries. Despite the immense public health impact of Cryptosporidium infections in developing countries, no significant progress has been made towards developing a vaccine. Biological and technical challenges have impeded traditional vaccinology approaches to identify novel targets for the development of vaccines against this pathogen. The availability of genomic resources for multiple species in the genus has the potential to make a reverse vaccinology approach feasible. This dissertation describes the development and availability of new genomic tools and resources that should prove a valuable resource for the Cryptosporidium research community. This includes the annotated draft genome sequences of three species of Cryptosporidium, the Cryptosporidium hominis Gene Catalog, and the genome of a strain of anthroponotic Cryptosporidium parvum, and its analysis.
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Keywords
Bioinformatics, Anthroponotic, Apicomplexan, Cryptosporidium, Gene catalog, Immunogen, Reverse vaccinolgy