Actin-dependent motility in Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites

The present study investigated the role of actin polymerization and myosin motor protein activity in the gliding motility of Cryptosporidium parvum sporozoites. Short motility trails were detected using an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) with a polyclonal antisporozoite antibody following incubation of sporozoites on poly-L-lysine-coated glass slides. Spo- rozoite motility was blocked following exposure to cytochalasin D, a myosin light-chain kinase inhibitor 1-(5-iodonaphthalene- 1-sulfonyl)-lH-hexhydro-1,4-diazapine, and the myosin ATPase inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime. Sporozoites were observed to form rounded, blunt-ended shapes when exposed to these same inhibitors. Incubation of purified oocysts with these compounds did not significantly inhibit in vitro excystation or subsequent infectivity in cultured epithelial cells. Indirect IFA revealed a uniform distribution of actin protein throughout the body of the sporozoite; immunoelectron microscopy confirmed a diffuse intracellular pattern of gold particles in excysted sporozoites. Collectively, these findings show that sporozoite motility is depen- dent upon an intact actin-myosin motor system, and the dynamic interaction of F-actin and myosin motor proteins has a further role in maintaining the structural integrity of excysted sporozoites. Further, in vitro excystation and infectivity of C. parvum occurs in the absence of dynamic sporozoite locomotion. Cryptosporidium parvum is an enteropathogenic parasite that preferentially infects the lumenal surface of epithelial cells lin- ing the microvilli of the small intestine. The most severe con- sequence of human cryptosporidiosis occurs in the immuno- deficient host, and C. parvum is recognized as a significant opportunistic pathogen in the acquired immunodeficiency syn- drome (AIDS) patient population (Petersen, 1992; O'Donoghue, 1995). Failure to mount an appropriate immune response pre- cipitates a protracted diarrheal illness that frequently progresses to chronic infection of the intestinal epithelium (Gellin and So- ave, 1992; Goodgame et al., 1995). The morbidity of chronic human infection is accentuated by the present lack of effica- cious therapy.