ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium is a genus of unicellular organisms that parasitize a wide range of animal hosts including humans. Compared to other apicomplexan parasites, Cryptosporidium are inadequately studied using genetic manipulation techniques. As the most important diarrheal pathogen after rotavirus in young children worldwide, Cryptosporidium is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in affected patients. Due to the lack of efficient genetic manipulation techniques, studies on the biology, epidemiology, immunology, pathogenesis, and treatment of Cryptosporidium spp. have lagged well behind those of other apicomplexan parasites. Cryptosporidium species were characterized historically according to their phenotypic properties, which have led to the unfortunate creation of multiple names for some identical species. Recent developments in gene manipulation methods have opened an important avenue to identify critical pathways in apicomplexan parasites and to enhance rational design of novel control measures against apicomplexan infections.
