New insights into Blastocystis spp.: a potential link with irritable bowel syndrome.

Philippe Poirier (1) , Ivan Wawrzyniak (1) , Christian Vivarès (1) , Frédéric Delbac (1) , Hicham El Alaoui (1)

1 LMGE - Laboratoire Microorganismes : Génome et Environnement

Blastocystis spp. belong to the phylum Stramenopila, a complex and heterogeneous evolutionary assemblage of heterotrophic and photosynthetic protozoa [1]. Interestingly, this is the only stramenopile living in the lower digestive tract of humans, and it also lives in other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects [1]. Even though isolates were reported to be morphologically indistinguishable, an extensive genetic variation among isolates from both humans and animals has been observed. Thirteen subtypes (ST1-ST13), with the first nine being found in humans, have been identified based on genes coding for the small-subunit ribosomal RNA [2]. Preferential repartition of STs exists among animals that appear to constitute the main reservoir for environmental dissemination and human contamination.

Domaines: Biodiversité et Ecologie

Philippe Poirier, Ivan Wawrzyniak, Christian Vivarès, Frédéric Delbac, Hicham El Alaoui. New insights into Blastocystis spp.: a potential link with irritable bowel syndrome.. PLoS Pathogens, 2012, 8 (3), pp.e1002545. ⟨10.1371/journal.ppat.1002545⟩. ⟨hal-00814144⟩