The study addressed to resolve the mechanism involved in cholesterol-depend
ent regulation of giardia encystation process, revealed that (a) the tropho
zoites have the ability to express genes coding for receptor-C-k and sterol
element binding protein (SREBP); (b) inhibition of cholesterol dependent a
ctivation of receptor-C-k results in the upregulation of CWP-1 gene express
ion leading to encystation process. Based upon these findings, we propose t
hat receptor-C-k dependent signalling is responsible for the regulation of
giardia encystation process by cholesterol.