Microbial Systems Biology

A Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of Cryptosporidium hominis

  1. Niti Vanee1,
  2. Seth B. Roberts2,
  3. Stephen S. Fong2,
  4. Patricio Manque1,3,
  5. Gregory A. Buck1,3

Article first published online: 20 MAY 2010

DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.200900323

Issue

Chemistry & Biodiversity

Chemistry & Biodiversity

Special Issue: Systems Biology in the Microbial World and Beyond

Volume 7, Issue 5, pages 1026–1039, May 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Vanee, N., Roberts, Seth B., Fong, Stephen S., Manque, P. and Buck, Gregory A. (2010), A Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of Cryptosporidium hominis. Chemistry & Biodiversity, 7: 1026–1039. doi: 10.1002/cbdv.200900323

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, VCU Life Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980678, 1101 E. Marshall St., 5-036 Sanger Hall, Richmond, VA 23298-0678, USA, (phone: +1-804-8282318; fax: +1-804-8281397)

  2. 2

    Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

  3. 3

    Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 20 MAY 2010
  3. Manuscript Received: 20 SEP 2009

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Keywords:

  • Cryptosporidium hominis;
  • Genome-scale metabolic model;
  • Metabolic models

Abstract

The apicomplexan Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite of humans and other mammals. Cryptosporidium species cause acute gastroenteritis and diarrheal disease in healthy humans and animals, and cause life-threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals such as people with AIDS. The parasite has a one-host life cycle and commonly invades intestinal epithelial cells. The current genome annotation of C. hominis, the most serious human pathogen, predicts 3884 genes of which ca. 1581 have predicted functional annotations. Using a combination of bioinformatics analysis, biochemical evidence, and high-throughput data, we have constructed a genome-scale metabolic model of C. hominis. The model is comprised of 213 gene-associated enzymes involved in 540 reactions among the major metabolic pathways and provides a link between the genotype and the phenotype of the organism, making it possible to study and predict behavior based upon genome content. This model was also used to analyze the two life stages of the parasite by integrating the stage-specific proteomic data for oocyst and sporozoite stages. Overall, this model provides a computational framework to systematically study and analyze various functional behaviors of C. hominis with respect to its life cycle and pathogenicity.

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