Absence of lipophosphoglycan-like glycoconjugates in Entamoeba dispar

Invasive amoebiasis is the result of infection of Entamoeba histolytica. Th e closely related Entamoeba dispar can colonize the human gut but does not cause invasive disease. In this study, E. dispar was analysed for the prese nce of the lipophosphoglycan-like (LPG) glycoconjugate known to be present on the cell surface of E. histolytica. E. dispar cells were radio-isotope l abelled with [H-3]galactose or [H-3]inositol. The acidic glycoconjugates we re extracted and analysed by hydrophobic chromatography over phenyl-Sepharo se and by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No LP G-like molecules could be identified in E. dispar in contrast to E. histoly tica, suggesting that these molecules may be absent in the non-pathogenic s pecies.