Abstract

Entamoeba histolytica is the intestinal protozoan parasite responsible for amebic colitis and liver abscesses, which cause mortality in many developing countries. The sequencing of the parasite genome provides new insights into the cellular workings and genome evolution of this major human pathogen. Here, we reviewed recent advances in the efforts to understand virulence and gene expression regulation in E. histolytica by using genomic approaches based on microarray technology and bioinformatic analysis of genome sequence.

Key words: Entamoeba histolytica, amoebiasis, genome sequence, cDNA microarrays, genomic expression profiling, virulence, gene families.