Pantropic retroviral vectors mediate gene transfer and expression in Entamoeba histolytica

Transformation of Entamoeba histolytica has been previously reported, but t he foreign genes have all been replicated episomally, Pantropic retroviral vectors based on the Moloney murine leukemia virus with the envelope glycop rotein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G) have an extremely broad host r ange and can be concentrated to high titer. To investigate whether these ps eudotyped, pantropic vectors can mediate gene transfer and;expression in E. histolytica, we constructed a retroviral vector, in which a hygromycin pho sphotransferase is expressed from the E. histolytica actin promoter. Data c onfirm the infection, integration, and expression of a foreign gene mediate d by the provirus. To our knowledge, this is the most evolutionarily distan t example of successful integration and expression of a mammalian retroviru s. Pantropic retroviral vectors may thus facilitate genetic analysis in spe cies lacking transformation systems. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.