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Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903 and Entamoeba dispar Brumpt, 1925: Differences in their Cell Surfaces and in the Bacteria‐containing Vacuoles
Author(s) -
PIMENTA PAULO F. P.,
DIAMOND LOUIS S.,
MIRELMAN DAVID
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.2002.tb00525.x
Subject(s) - dispar , vacuole , entamoeba histolytica , biology , entamoeba , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , phagocytosis , ultrastructure , protozoa , botany , genetics
ABSTRACT.Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903 and Entamoeba dispar Brumpt, 1925 are two of eight species of Entamoeba that sometimes inhabit the human colon. The former is an invasive organism capable of causing life‐threatening intestinal and extraintestinal disease; the latter appears not to be invasive. Because the two species, when viewed by light microscopy appear morphologically similar, they were long regarded as a single species. However, recent biochemical, immunological, and genetic studies provided convincing evidence that they belong to separate species. Our ultrastructural studies revealed distinct differences in at least two features of the trophozoites. 1) The cell surfaces of the trophozoites of each species differ with regard to structures exposed on the surface, and the distribution and arrangement of intra‐membranous proteins. 2) The phagocytosis of bacteria differs in respect to the formation of the phagocytic vacuoles. Loose vacuoles containing several bacteria were seen in E. histolytica whereas tight vacuoles containing a single bacterium were observed in E. dispar. Furthermore, bacteria were found only within vacuoles in E. histolytica ; in E. dispar , bacteria were found within vacuoles and some were found free in the cytoplasm.