New Research Reveals Genetic Make-up of Giardia

by Gandhi on  October 01, 2007 at 1:20 PM General Health News
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New Research Reveals Genetic Make-up of Giardia
The scientific journal, Science, has presented the results of a research on the genetics and biology of the parasite Giardia lamblia. This information can pave the way for a better diagnosis and treatment of the diarrheal disease giardiasis, which affects 200 million people every year. It may also provide more knowledge on several vital biological processes in humans.

Giardia lamblia is an intestinal parasite that exists all over the world and causes diarrhea. Above all, it affects young individuals, and in the third world the infection is extremely common. At present roughly 200 million people are infected with Giardia; Sweden has 1,500 cases each year, with infection spreading at day-care centers and via polluted water. Recently the Norwegian city of Bergen experienced a major water-borne epidemic, with 1,300 people infected by the parasite. Young animals can also get Giardia infections, which entail major costs for agriculture. It is not known why Giardia makes people sick, or why some people are more susceptible than others.

Today’s issue of Science includes an article by Swedish and American researchers describing the genetic sequence and biology of Giardia lamblia and comparing it with other organisms. Among other things, the article shows that the parasite differs in several ways from other organisms when it comes to the copying and reading of DNA. The parasite also lacks several common signal proteins, but, on the other hand, it has many enzymes of the protein kinase and protein phosphate type whose functions are still unknown.

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