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Exploring the biology and evolution of Blastocystis and its role in the microbiome

Tsaousis, Anastasios D and Betts, Emma L. and McCain, McCain and Newton, Jamie M. and Jinatham, Vasana and Gentekaki, Eleni (2020) Exploring the biology and evolution of Blastocystis and its role in the microbiome. In: Eukaryome impact on human intestine homeostasis and mucosal immunology. Springer. ISBN 978-3-030-44825-7. (doi:10.1007/978-3-030-44826-4) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:78515)

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Abstract

Blastocystis is a microbial eukaryote, considered to be the most prevalent microbe colonizing the human gut, colonising approximately one billion individuals worldwide. Although Blastocystis presence has been linked to intestinal disorders, its pathogenicity still remains controversial due to its high prevalence in asymptomatic carriers. Having 17 genetic subtypes, Blastocystis is extremely diverse and can withstand fluctuations of oxygen in the gut. Blastocystis harbors peculiar mitochondrion-related organelles (MROs), which are considered to be an intermediate form between a typical aerobic mitochondrion and an obligate anaerobic hydrogenosome. Another interesting fact about Blastocystis concerns its mixed genome: 2.5% of the Blastocystis proteins have been laterally acquired from eukaryotes and prokaryotes. These acquired genes are associated with carbohydrate scavenging and metabolism, anaerobic amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, oxygen-stress resistance, and pH homeostasis. In addition, Blastocystis has proteins associated with secretion that are potentially involved in infection, escaping host defense and even affect composition of the prokaryotic microbiome and inflammation of the gut. In this chapter, we will challenge the state-of-the-art on Blastocystis knowledge, and we will present published data that can be used to understand the genomic adaptations of this microbial organism and its role within the microbiome of the hosts.

Item Type: Book section
DOI/Identification number: 10.1007/978-3-030-44826-4
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Anastasios Tsaousis
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2019 09:16 UTC
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2020 15:38 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/78515 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Tsaousis, Anastasios D.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5424-1905
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