HOST-PARASITE RELATIONSHIPS IN AMEBIASIS - CONFERENCE REPORT

Entamoeba histolytica has been redescribed as the separate species E. histolytica and Entamoeba dispar. E. dispar is apparently never invasi ve in humans, while E. histolytica is the etiologic agent of amebic co litis and liver abscess. Virulence factors that may enable E. histolyt ica to invade include a galactose-specific adhesin, secreted proteases , extracellular matrix receptors, and a cell surface lipophosphoglycan . Progress in vaccine development includes the identification of the c ysteine-rich domain of the adhesin and the serine-rich surface protein as protective antigens.