What is unusual about Trichomonas Genome?

What is unusual about Trichomonas Genome?

With a 160 megabase genome and up to 60,000 genes residing in six chromosomes, the parasite has the largest genome among sequenced protists. Although it is thought that the genome size and unusual large coding capacity is owed to genome duplication events, the exact reason and its consequences are less well studied.

Are Parabasalids parasites?

Parabasalids are characterized by a semi-functional mitochondria referred to as a hydrogenosome; they are comprised of parasitic protists, such as Trichomonas vaginalis.

What disease does parabasalids cause?

In parabasalids these structures function anaerobically and are called hydrogenosomes because they produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct. The parabasalid Trichomonas vaginalis causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease in humans, which appears in an estimated 180 million cases worldwide each year.

Which micro organisms is known to cause beaver fever or backpacker’s diarrhea?

The disease caused by G. intestinalis, giardiasis, is also called beaver fever or backpacker’s diarrhea. Humans contract giardiasis by ingestion of water or food that contains Giardia cysts. Occasionally, transmission may be via fecal–oral or sexual routes.

Is trichomoniasis a pathogen?

Trichomoniasis (or “trich”) is a very common sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused by infection with a protozoan parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis. Although symptoms of the disease vary, most people who have the parasite cannot tell they are infected.

Where is Parabasalid found?

Most parabasalids inhabit the digestive tract of animal hosts as commensals, parasites, or symbionts. In particular, symbiotic parabasalids found in the gut of termites and wood-eating cockroaches play a central role in the digestion of cellulose [4].

Are parabasalids heterotrophic or autotrophic?

Many of the protist species classified into the supergroup Excavata are asymmetrical, single-celled organisms with a feeding groove “excavated” from one side. This supergroup includes heterotrophic predators, photosynthetic species, and parasites. Its subgroups are the diplomonads, parabasalids, and euglenozoans.

Do parabasalids have a nucleus?

The other type of protists without mitochondria are the parabasalids, which have a single nucleus.

Is Giardia a Diplomonad?

Giardia belongs to the diplomonads, a group of protists in the supergroup Excavata. Diplomonads are characterized by eight motile flagella organized into four bilaterally symmetric pairs.

Is Giardia a parasite?

Giardia is a tiny parasite (germ) that causes the diarrheal disease giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces (poop) from infected people or animals.

What type of organism is syphilis?

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

Is gonorrhea bacterial or viral?

Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The gonorrhea bacteria are most often passed from one person to another during sexual contact, including oral, anal or vaginal intercourse.