Project description:Giardia gene expression is being examined using Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) to monitor genome-wide levels of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression throughout Giardia's life cycle. Examination of genome-wide gene expression patterns will provide a coherent picture of activation and inactivation of biological pathways. This research will provide a comprehensive understanding of changes in giardial gene expression in response to important host physiological signals and will serve as a valuable model for study of other parasites and complex eukaryotes, such as yeast and animals. It will provide a dynamic framework, in the context of the life cycle, to the annotation of the Giardia genome, including the detection of unpredicted genes via detection of their tags. Keywords: Giardia, SAGE, trophozoites, encystation, excystation, cysts
Project description:To investigate the transcriptional responses of intestinal epithelial cells and Giardia intestinalis, assemblage A isolate WB-C6, trophozoites during infection, we infected human enteroids with preconditioned trophozoites for 1h and 3h. Giardia intestinalis trophozoites were preconditioned before the infection with either DMEM/F-12 or DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 10% FBS to modify the trophozoites’ fitness.