Original Article A novel genotype screening and phylogenetic analysis of Blastocystis hominis based on EF-1α

Original Article

A novel genotype screening and phylogenetic

analysis of Blastocystis hominis based on EF-1α

Tingzheng Zhan*_{, Shanshan He}*_{, Teng Liu, Lili Tang, Dengyu Liu, Zuochao Lu, Xiaoquan Liu, Yanwen Li,} Jiqing Shen, Xiaoyin Fu, Huanhuan Shi

Department of Parasitology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China. *_{Equal contributors and co-first}

authors.

Received February 28, 2017; Accepted March 24, 2017; Epub August 1, 2017; Published August 15, 2017

Abstract: Blastocystis hominis (B. h) is a kind of intestinal parasitic protozoa with the characteristic of worldwide distribution, morphology diversity, and diarrhea induced, etc. The traditional morphological classify was difficult to distinguish the genetic difference of B. h in different population and different geological strains. Recently, based on the small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of B. h, the sequenced-tagged site (STS) primers was design, and successfully and widely applied to the distinguish the genotype of B. h, and however several B. h strains did not dis-tinguish. To address it, the elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) gene of B. h was screened due to its conservation here, and its specific primers were designed to distinguish the genotype of B. h. After epidemiological survey, the infection rate of B. h in boys was 14.74%, and that of girls was 15.05%, and the total infection rate of B. h was 14.93%. In total of 53 infection students, with the using of 7 pairs STS primers, 31 strains was validated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including 4 strains of Type 1, 17 strains of Type 3, 4 strains of Type 4, 1 strains of Type 6, and 5 strains of Type 7, and did not found the Type 2, Type 5 and mixture genotype. In the 23 unknown genotype strains of B. h, 15 strains were identified by PCR using EF-1α primers, and had a higher homology in the DNA sequence (70%), and was evolutionarily closer to the EF-1α sequence of S and H strains of B. h. This study indicated that STS primers could identify the genotype of B. h, and EF-1α primers as a novel diagnosis primers could auxiliary identify the unknown genotype strain of B. h, and exhibited a wide application on the identification of the genotype strain of B. h, and provided a significant reference on the study of B. h in clinic.

Keywords: Blastocystis hominis, distinguish, sequenced-tagged site, elongation factor-1 alpha, primer

Introduction

Blastocystis hominis (B. h) is a single-celled intestinal parasite, and is very common in both

humans and animals [1-3], and firstly named as

B. h in 1912 by Brumpt, et al. Based on the morphological study of it, it was divided into the intestinal parasite class in 1967 by Zerdt, et al,

and was finally divided into the Blastocysta in

1993 by Jinbo Jiang, et al [4, 5]. It is one of the most common human parasites in the world and has a global distribution, especially in the developing country of the Southeast Asia and the South America [6-8]. In developing country, the infection rate was 30%-50%, and was much higher than that of the developed country (1.5%-10%) [9-11]. It is estimated that 25% of people are infected with this parasite [12-14].

For a long time, it was believed that B. h was harmless, and however of the 10 subspecies, 2 or 3 subspecies are known to cause complaints as recent study documented, including chronic intestinal symptoms and/or irritable bowel syn-drome [15-17]. On the taxonomy, the traditional method based on the morphological structure of B. h does not clearly distinguish the genotype of B. h due to the diversity of it [18], and with the rapid developing of molecular technique, to determine the genetic difference and features

of DNA in B. h exhibits a significant application

(RFLP) in different regions [19]. Yoshikawa, et al has design the sequenced-tagged site (STS) as a primer of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

based on the SSU rDNA specific fragment, and

correctly distinguished the different genotype of B. h in different countries and regions, and still widely used to distinguish the genotype of B. h [20]. However, due to the diversity of B. h in different countries and regions, several geno-type of B. h did not entirely identify just using the STS primers, and another primers based on a conserved gene fragment need to develop.

The elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) is a highly

conserved ubiquitous protein that is involved in translation and is desirable for use in phyloge-netic studies on Blastocystis, an enigmatic intestinal parasite with a contentious taxonom-ic position [21]. Nakamura, et al has well docu-mented that B. h did not belong to Eumycota

based on the analysis of the EF-1α amino acid

sequence of it [21]. Ho, et al has also

docu-mented that EF-1α gene also had genetic poly -morphism, and constructed the phylogenetic relationship based on the DNA sequence and amino acid of 13 B. h strains [22]. All of the

studies indicated that EF-1α as a conserved gene exhibited the importance on the classifi

-cation of B. h. In this study, the EF-1α gene was chosen, and its PCR amplification primers was

designed, and hoped to provide an auxiliary detection method of B. h genotype.

Materials and methods

Epidemiological survey and microscopic ex-amination

A total of 1433 students who studied in the Guangxi Medical University were chosen as the object of this study, including 563 boys and 870 girls. All students were distributed the questionnaire to collect the general conditions, personal hygiene and environmental health, etc. After epidemiological survey, a total of 3-5 g faeces was collected, and treated with hydro-chloric acid and diethyl ether according to acid

ether centrifugal sedimentation method, and the nightsoil was smeared and analyzed by optical microscope.

B. h separation and culture in vitro

The above-validated positive faeces (2-3 g) was picked by bamboo stick, and placed in a 15 ml centrifuge tube, and added 10 ml of Locke’s to stir evenly, and removed the coarse particle. The turbid liquid was transferred to a new 15 ml centrifuge tube, and added 10 ml of Locke’s to naturally sediment 1-2 hrs, and then removed the supernatant. Repeated one time, and suck up 1 ml liquid nearby the nightsoil, and

inocu-lated to Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Media

(IMDM) medium, and anaerobic cultured at 37°C for 48 hrs, and repeated one time. Then, centrifuged at 4,000 g for 2 min, and removed the supernatant, and added 10 ml of Locke’s to resuspended polypide, and centrifuged at 4,000 g for 2 min, repeated 3-4 times. Removed the supernatant, and added 4 ml of Locke’s to resuspended polypide, and centrifuged at 5,600 g for 3 min, repeated 3 times. Removed the supernatant, and added 1 ml of Locke’s to resuspended polypide, and counted using cell counting chamber.

Genomic DNA extraction of B. h

The above-separated B. h genomic DNA was extracted according to the manufacturers’ instructions of the blood/cell/tissue genomic DNA extraction kit (TIANGEN BIOTECH (BEIJING) CO. LTD). The B. h polypide was washed with

double distilled water, and added 200 μl of GA buffer (pre-added 8 μl of Rnase A) to shaking at

room temperature, and stewing for 5 min. Then,

added 20 μl of proteinase K and 200 μl of GB

buffer to reverse blending, and incubated at

70°C water bath. Added 220 μl of absolute

ethyl alcohol to reverse blending, and then transferred to the CB3 column, and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm for 30 s, removed the elution.

Added 500 μl of GD buffer, and centrifuged at

12,000 rpm for 30 s, removed the elution.

Added 700 μl of PW buffer, and stewing at room

temperature for 30 s, and removed the elution,

repeated one time, and added 50 μl of TE buf -fer, and stewing for 2-5 min, and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm for 2 min. The elution was collect-ed, and the concentration and the purity were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometer. Table 1. B. h infection rate

Grade Examination Infection Infection rate (%)

Boys 563 83 14.74

Girls 870 131 15.05

Identification of B. h different strains using

STS primers by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

The above-extracted B. h genomic DNA (100 ng) was used as a template to perform PCR assay using STS primers as shown in Table 2. The reaction mixture, including 25 µL Taq Mix, 1 µL forward primer, 1 µL reverse primer, 2 µL genomic DNA, and 21 µL ddH₂O, was prepared and the PCR was performed according to the following program: one cycle of 94°C for 5 min; 30 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, 54°C for 30 s, and 72°C for 30 s. After PCR, products were

identi-fied by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, and

images were gathered by Gel Imaging (Bio-Rad, USA).

Identification of B. h different strains using EF-α primer by PCR

A total of 23 strains of unknown genotype B. h was chosen, including 11 strains of B. h of

pared and the PCR was performed according to the following program: one cycle of 94°C for 5 min; 30 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, 54°C for 30 s, and 72°C for 30 s. After PCR, products

were identified by 1% agarose gel electrophore -sis, and images were gathered by Gel Imaging (Bio-rad, USA). Subsequently, the DNA bands

were cut, and extracted by Gel Extraction Kit

(OMEGA, Japan), and then performed direct sequencing.

Multiple sequences alignment using Cluster W/X and phylogenetic analysis

The above-validated EF-α DNA sequences of B.

h were performed multiple sequences align-ment to the DNA sequence of B. h different

strains using Cluster W/X software, including C

stain, E (G) strain, S stain and H strain. After then, the phylogenetic tree was imaged using the function of “Phylogeny” in the MEGA 7.0.21 software (http://www.megasoftware.net/dow- nload_form).

Table 2. STS primers used in this study

Subtypes _primerSTS _{size (bp) Sequences of primers}Product GenBank 1 SB83 351 5’-GAAGGACTCTCTGACGATGA-3’/5’-GTCCAAATGAAAGGCAGC-3’ AF166086 2 SB155 650 5’-ATCAGCCTACAATCTCCTC-3’/5’-ATCGCCACTTCTCCAAT-3’ AF166087 3 SB227 526 5’-AGGATTTGGTGTTTGGAGA-3’/5’-TTAGAAGTGAAGGAGATGGAAG-3’ AF166088 4 SB332 338 5’-GCATCCAGACTACTATCAACATT-3’/5’-CCATTTTCAGACAACCACTTA-3’ AF166091 5 SB340 704 5’-TGTTCTTGTGTCTTCTCAGCTC-3’/5’-TTCTTTCACACTCCCGTCAT-3’ AY048752 6 SB336 317 5’-GTGGGTAGAGGAAGGAAAACA-3’/5’-AGAACAAGTCGATGAAGTGAGAT-3’ AY048751 7 SB337 487 5’-GTCTTTCCCTGTCTATTCTGCA-3’/5’-AATTCGGTCTGCTTCTTCTG-3’ AY048750

Figure 1. Microscopic ex-amination of B. h strain. The image indicated that B. h protozoon was well breed, and was ap-peared gemmipary.

which did not identify using STS primers as above-men-tioned, and 12 strains of unknown genotype B. h of which were come from the coastal region of the south of Guilin. As the above-men-tioned, a total of 100 ng genomic DNA of B. h was used as a template to

per-form PCR assay using EF-α

pre-Statistical analysis

All data expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (SD). Statistical analysis was per-formed with one-way ANOVA using SPSS soft-ware (version 21.0, http://spss.en.softonic. com/; Chicago, IL, USA), and Student’s t-tests were performed in a group of two sample, and P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 were considered to

indi-cate significant differences and highly signifi -cant differences, respectively.

Results

Epidemiological survey and microscopic ex-amination

As exhibiting of Table 1, the B. h infection rate of boys was 14.74%, and the B. h infection rate

Figure 3. Identification of the PCR products of EF-1α in 23 samples by agarose gel electrophoresis. The image indicated that the feature EF-1α DNA bands were amplified by PCR.

Table 3. DNA sequence of EF-1α in different strains of B. h after sequencing

Number DNA sequence Note

6 > 6

CATGGAAACGGGAAAGTGCTCCGGTACTGCATTTGACAGCCAACTCGTGGGATGGTCTTCAGTTAAGGACCGGCTGCGGCAATTCCAGCAC- CATGCCTGCTCTCTGTAACCTTCATTTAACTTACTCTTCCCAGTCATCATCTTTAAATGTTTAATTCATACACACAGTATACCCCTAAACACCAAAA- GATTCAACACCTTTTTGAAAATATTGATGTAAATTTAAATGATTTTAAGTTAAACTTGAGGATGGACATTTATAAGCGTCATCGTTATAATACTATAATAAC- CAATCATTCTATAAAGGAGCGATCATAATTGGATCTACACTTTTTAATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGTGCTGTTATCGGTCTTATCACCAACGGGATTGC-CACACTGCTCACATTA

7 > 7

GGCATGAGTTCTCAGTTAGGACCCTCGGTCCGCCCGATCGAGAAGCCGCTCCGCCTGCCCCTGCAGGACGTGTACAAGATCGGCGGTATCG- GTACGGTGCCCGTGGGCCGCGTCGAGACCGGCGTCATGAAGCCCGGCGACGTCGTCTTCTTCGCCCCGTCCAACGTGACCACCGAGGT- CAAGTCCATCGAGATGCACCACGAGCAGCTCGCTGAGGCCGTCCCCGGCGACAACGTTGGCTTCAACGTCAAGAACGTGTCCGTCAAGGA- CATCCGCCGTGGTAACGTGTGCTCCAACTCCAAGAACGACCCCGCCCGCGAGGCCGAGGACTTCACCGCCCAGGTCATCATCCTGAAC-CACCCCGGCCAGATCAGACGGCTACGCCCCCGTCCTGGATGCTCACATAAA

9 > 9

GGGGTACCAGCGTGATTCGCTGTATCCTCGGAGAGCTGATCGCCCACAAGCGCCGCCAGTGCTTCCGCCGCCGCAACCTTCATCTCCTC- GTTAATATCACTGGCCCGCACATCAAAGGCTCCGCGGAAGATGCCGGGGAAGGCCAGCACATTGTTGATCTGGTTGGGATAATCACTGCG- GCCAGTGGAAATGACCTTGGCACCGCCCGCTTTAGCCGCATCCGGGAAAATTTCCGGTGTTGGATTGCCACACGGCTCACATAAACG- TATTCCCTTCATTCCCATCTCTGGATTCAACGGAGATAACATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCGCATGTTGGAGCTCTCTGCGAACATGCCCTGGTA-CAAGGGACCCACTCTGATTGAAGCTCT

11 > 11

ATCCCAACCAGATCAACAATGTGCTGGCCTTCCCCGGCATCTTCCGCGGAGCCTTTGATGTGCGGGCCAGTGATATTAACGAGGAGATGAAGGTT- GCGGCGGCGGAAGCACTGGCGGCGCTTGTGGGCGATCAGCTCTCCGAGGATTACATCATCCCCGCTGCTTTTGATCCCAGAGTGGGTCCCTTG- GTACCAAAAAAGCTGAGGCCGTCCCCGGCGACAACGTTGGCTTCAACGTCAAGAACGTGTCCGTCAAGGACATCCGCCGTGGTAACGT- GTGCTCCAACTCCAAGAACGACCCCGCCCGCGAGGCCGAGGACTTCACCGCCCAGGTGAACCACCCCGGCCAGATCAGCAACGGCTAC-GCCCCCGTCCTGGATTGCCACCTGGCCTCACATAA

28 > 28

CATGGAAACGGGAAAGTGCTCCGGTACTGCATTTGACAGCCAACTCGTGGGATGGTCTTCAGTTAAGGACCGGCTGCGGCAATTCCAGCAC- CATGCCTGCTCTCTGTAACCTTCATTTAACTTACTCTTCCCAGTCATCATCTTTAAATGTTTAATTCATACACACAGTATACCCCTAAACACCAAAA- GATTCAACACCTTTTTGAAAATATTGATGTAAATTTAAATGATTTTAAGTTAAACTTGAGGATGGACATTTATAAGCGTCATCGTTATAATACTATAATAAC- CAATCATTCTATAAAGGAGCGATCATAATTGGATCTACACTTTTTAATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGTGCTGTTCACATTACCCGGCCAGATCAGCAACGC-CACCTGGCCTCACATTAACCACCTGGCCTTA

34 > 34

TGATATATGATATTAAAAGACGTTGCTGCCGCGGCATGGAAACGGGAAAGTGCTCCGGTACTGCATTTGACAGCCAACTCGTGGGATG- GTCTTCAGTTAAGGACCGGCTGCGGCAATTCCAGCACCATGCCTGCTCTCTGTAACCTTCATTTAACTTACTCTTCCCAGTCATCATCTTTAAATGTT- TAATTCATACACACAGTATACCTCATTCTATAAAGGAGCGATCATAATTGGATCTACACTTTTTAATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGTGCTGTTATCGGTCTTAT- CACCAACGGGATTGCCACACTGCTCACATTATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCGATTACGCAACATGTGTAATATGTGATTATGTGCTTGTATGCTCTACCT-GATCAGCAACGCCACCTGGCCTCACATGC

37 > 37

TCGGGGTCATCTGGAATCCTGCCGGGTAAACAATTCTTGAAGCCCTGAATACGGACCTTGTCTGCGACGCCATCAACACCGCTATGCGCGAGCT- GTTTTTACAGATCGTTTATGGCCGTACTCAGACAGCTTTCTCTGAAGATGGTCTTCCGGTCGGTGCTGGCCTTGAAGACCTGGGTAAAGGCTT- GAGAAGCCAGGTTGGTACTATGTACGGTACACTGGCCAAAGGCCCGCGTTACCTGGAAATGGCAGAAGGTTACGTCACAAAAGTCGCTTTAAAC- GAAAAAGACGAAATCATCGGTTACGCTTGGAATCGGAAAGGGTATTCAGCCCATTTGTGATGAAAATGCGTGCTGGGCTTATACACTCGGCGC-CAGCACTGGTCATCAAACGCGGTGCAAAAATGACGGCTGACG

51 > 51

GCGGTTGGCCGTCGTCAGCTAGGACCCCCGGTCCGCCCGATCGAGAAGCCGCTCCGCCTGCCCCTGCAGGACGTGTACAAGATCGGCGG- TATCGGCACGGTGCCCGTGGGCCGCGTCGAGACCGGCGTCATGAAGCCCGGCGACGTCGTCTTCTTCGCCCCGTCCAACGTGACCACCGAG- GTCAAGTCCATCGAGATGCACCACGAGCAGCTCGCTGAGGCCGTCCCCGGCGACAACGTTGGCTTCAACGTCAAGAACGTGTCCGTCAAGGA- CATCCGCCGTGGTAACGTGTGCTCCAACTCCAAGAACGACCCCGCCCGCGAGGCCGAGGACTTCACCGCCCAGGTCATCATCCTGAAC-CACCCCGGCCAGATCAGCAACGGCTACGCCCACTGCCTCACAATAAA

S2 > S2

CATGGAATTGACAGCCAACTCGTGGGATGGTCTTCAAGAACGGTCAGACTCGTGAGCACGCTCTTCTTGCCAACACTATGGGAGTGAAGCAGAT- TATCTGCTGCGTGAACAAGATGGATGACAAGTCCGTGAACTCGTCCGAGGCTCGTTACAAGGAGATCAAGGCTGAGATGCCAGCTTCTTGAC- CACAGTCGGTTACCAGAAGGTGGAGGAGCGTATTCCCTTCATTCCCATCTCTGGATTCAACGGAGATAACATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCGATA- AAGGAGCGATCATAATTGGATCTACACTTTTTAATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGTGCTGTTATCGGACACTGCTCACATTATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGT-GCTGTTATCGGACACTGCTCACATTA

S4 > S4

GCGTACGCAGCGTACGCTATGTATCCATCGGAGAGCTGATCGCCCACAAGCGCCGCCAGTGCTTCCGCCGCCGCAACCTTCATCTCCTCGT- TAATATCACTGGCCCGCACATCAAAGGCTCCGCGGAAGATGCCGGGGAAGGCCAGCACATTGTTGATCTGGTTGGGATAATCACTGCG- GCCAGTGGAAATGACCTTGGCACCGCCCGCTTTAGCCGCATCCGGGAAAATTTCCGGTGTTGGATTGCCACACTGCTCACATTAACG- TATTCCCTTCATTCCCATCTCTGGATTCAACGGAGATAACATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCCGTTACGCTTTCGTACAGCTTGGCAAAATGATGGAAAA-CATCAAAAAGGGCATGGACCCGACGCCAGCACTGGTCATGCTGACG

S7 > S7

of girls was 15.05%, and the total infection rate of B. h was 14.93%. After separation of B. h in faeces with the 3 generation anaerobic culture in vitro, the medium was orange red and

trans-lucent and floccule sediment was observed in

the bottom of tube. After microscopic examina-tion, B. h protozoon was well breed, and was appeared gemmipary (Figure 1).

Five genotypes of B. h were identified using

STS primers

As PCR results exhibiting of Figure 2, in 53

samples, five genotypes of B. h were identified

using 7 pairs STS primers (Table 2), including 4 strains of Type 1, 17 strains of Type 3, 4 strains of Type 4, 1 strains of Type 6, and 5 strains of Type 7, and did not found the Type 2, Type 5 and mixture genotypes, and appeared several obvi-ous DNA bands, such as the 351 bp band of Type 1 in sample 27, 35, 44 and 46, the 526 bp band of Type 3 in sample 4, 8, 10, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 30, 31, 14, 32, 33, 36, 39 and 40, the 338 bp band of Type 4 in sample 16, 41, 42 and 43, the 317 bp band of Type 6 in sample 22, and the 487 bp band of Type 7 in sample 26, 29, 38, 47 and 48. In addition, a total of 22 strains of B. h had no any DNA bands, and belonged to the unknown geno-types B. h.

A total of 15 strains of B. h appeared

charac-teristic DNA bands using EF-α primer

As PCR results exhibiting of Figure 3, in 23

sam-ples of which was identified as unknown geno -type, 15 strains appeared distinctive DNA

bands using EF-α primers, such as sample 6, 7,

9, 11, 15, 28, 34, 37, 51, S2, S4, S5, S9, S11 and S12, and 8 strains did not appeared any DNA bands, and the DNA sequence was exhib-ited in Table 3 after sequencing.

EF-α had a higher homology in 13 strains of B.

h, and highly conserved

After multiple sequence alignment (Figure 4), the 13 DNA sequences of B. h strains had a

higher homology (70%). Evolutionarily, the EF-α

DNA sequence of 13 samples was closer to that of the S and H strains of B. h (Table 4) as phylogenetic analysis (Figure 5).

Discussion

This study demonstrated that B. h had a higher infection rate in the students of Guangxi

Medical University, and firstly identified 5 geno -type of B. h using STS primers, including Type 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and did not found Type 2, 5, and any mixture genotypes. Based on it, in 23 strains unknown genotype B. h, 13 strains was

identi-fied by PCR using EF-1α primers, and exhibited a closed evolutionary relationship to the EF-1α

sequence of the S and H strains of B. h, and

exhibited a significant application value on the

phylogenetic analysis of B. h.

B. h is a single-celled intestinal parasite and widely distributed all over the world [23-26], and existed multiple stages in its life cycle with the morphological diversity [17, 27, 28], and therefore did not clearly distinguish its genetic difference in different population and different regions just based on the morphological struc-ture of B. h, and a novel approach need to design. Based on the rapid developing of

molecular technology, the genotype classifica -tion according to the genetic difference of gene or protein has been raised much more

atten-tion. With the STS primers used in the PCR in

1997 by Clark, et al, several genotypes of B. h were found [19]. In this study, seven features primers of STS were designed to distinguish the genotype of B. h in 53 samples, and 31 strains

of B. h were amplified the features DNA bands,

S11 >S11

CATGGAAACGGGAAAGTGCTCCGGTACTGCATTTGACAGCCAACTCGTGGGATGGTCTTCAGTTAAGGACCGGCTGCGGCAATTCCAGCAC- CATGCCTGCTCTCTGTAACCTTCATTTAACTTACTCTTCCCAGTCATCATCTTTAAATGTTTAATTCATACACACAGTATACCCCTAAACACCAAAA- GATTCAACACCTTTTTGAAAATATTGATGTAAATTTAAATGATTTTAAGTTAAACTTGAGGATGGACATTTATAAGCGTCATCGTTATAATACTATAATAAC- CAATCATTCTATAAAGGAGCGATCATAATTGGATCTACACTTTTTAATCGGCCCTTTGGTCGGTGCTGTTATCGGTCTTATCACCAACGGGATTGC-CACACTGCTCACATTA

S12 >S12

and belonged to 5 genotypes, including Type 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and did not found Type 2, 5, and any mixture genotypes, and wherein the Type 3 was the most and included 17 strains of B. h. However, it was still 22 strains genotype did not distinguish, and we hypothesized that another genetic population may be existed in it if used a

novel amplified primers.

The elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) is a highly

conserved ubiquitous protein that is involved in translation and is desirable for use in phyloge-netic studies on Blastocystis, an enigmatic

intestinal parasite with a contentious

taxonom-ic position [21]. Therefore, the EF-1α full length

fragment was chosen, and designed a pair of

EF-1α primers to amplify the 421 bp length fea

-tures bands. After PCR amplification using EF-1α primers in 23 strains unknown genotype

of B. h, the 421 bp features bands was

ampli-fied in 13 strains, and these sequences had a

higher homology (70%). In addition, after phylo-genetic analysis, these DNA sequences of

EF-1α was closer to that of the S and H strains of B. h, and indicated that the EF-1α primers

could be used another phylogeny biomarker. Table 4. DNA sequence of EF-1α in different strain of B. h

Strain DNA sequence of EF-1α GeneBank

C > C strain

GCCGATGTTGCCATTCTGATCATTGCTGCCGGAACTGGAGAGTTCGAGGCTGGTTACGGAAAGAACGGTCAGACTCGTGAGCAC- GCTCTTCTTGCCAACACTCTGGGAGTGAAGCAGATGATCTGCTGCGTGAACAAGATGGATGACAAGTCCGTGAACTACTCCGAGGCTCGT- TACAAGGAGATCAAGGCTGAGATGACCAGCTTCTTGACCAAGGTCGGTTACCAGAAGGTGGAGGAGCGTATTCCCTTCATTCCCATCTCTG- GATTCAACGGAGATAACATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCGAACATGCCCTGGTACAAGGGACCCACTCTGATTGAAGCTCTGGACAA- CATTCATCCTCCTAAGCGCCCTGTGGATAAGCCTCTGCGTCTTCCTCTGCAGGATGTGTACAAGATCGGAGGTATTGGTACAGTGCCT- GTGGGCCGTGTGGAGACCGGTATCCTGAAGCCCGGTATGACCGTGACCTTCGCTCCCGTGGGTGTGACCACTGAAGTCAAGTCCGTG- GAAATGCACCACGAGTCGATTCCTCAGGCTCTGCCCGGAGACAACGTCGGTTTCAACGTGAAGAACGTGTCTGTGAAGGACATTCACCGTG- GAAACGTGTGCGGAGATGCCAAGAACGATCCTCCTTGCAGAGTGGAGTCGTTCACCGCTCAGGTCATTGTGATGAACCACCCCTCGGG- TATTCGTCCTGGTTACTGCCCTGTGATGGATTGCCACACTGCTCACATTGCCTGCAAGTTCGAGAAGATCATGTCCGAGATGGATAAGCGTAC-CGGAAAGGTCCTGCGTGAGAACCCCGATATCGTCAAGAACGGAAAGTCCATGATGGCCGAGCTGGTGCCTTCCAAG

AF091355.2

E(G) > E (G) strain

GCCGATGTTGCCATTCTGATCATTGCTGCCGGAACTGGAGAGTTCGAGGCTGGTTACGGAAAGAACGGTCAGACTCGTGAGCAC- GCTCTTCTTGCCAACACTCTGGGAGTGAAGCAGATGATCTGCTGCGTGAACAAGATGGATGACAAGTCCGTGAACTACTCCGAGGCTCGT- TACAAGGAGATCAAGGCTGAGATGACCAGCTTCTTGACCAAGGTCGGTTACCAGAAGGTGGAGGAGCGTATTCCCTTCATTCCCATCTCTG-

GATTCAACGGAGATAACATGTTGGAGCGCTCTGCTAACATGCCCTGGTACAAGGGACCCACTCTGATTGAAGCTCTGGACAA- CATTCATCCTCCTAAGCGCCCTGTGGATAAGCCTCTGCGTCTTCCTCTGCAGGATGTGTACAAGATCGGAGGTATTGGTACAGTGCCT- GTGGGCCGTGTGGAGACCGGTATCCTGAAGCCCGGTATGACCGTGACCTTCGCTCCCGTGGGTGTGACCACTGAAGTCAAGTCCGTG- GAAATGCACCACGAGTCGATTCCTCAGGCTCTGCCCGGAGACAACGTCGGTTTCAACGTGAAGAACGTGTCTGTGAAGGACATTCACCGTG- GAAACGTGTGCGGAGATGCCAAGAACGATCCTCCTTGCAGAGTGGAGTCGTTCACCGCTCAGGTCATTGTGATGAACCACCCCTCGGG- TATTCGTCCTGGTTACTGCCCTGTGATGGATTGCCACACTGCTCACATTGCCTGCAAGTTCGAGAAGATCATGTCCGAGATGGATAAGCGTAC-CGGAAAGGTCCTGCGTGAGAACCCCGATATCGTCAAGAACGGAAAGTCCATGATGGCCGAGCTGGTGCCTTCCAAG

AF091356.1

S > S strain

ATTCAACATGGGTAAGGAAAAGCCTCATATTAACCTGGTCGTCATTGGTCACGTCGTTGCCGGCAAGTCGACCACCACTGGTCACCTGATC- TACGCTTGCGGTGGTATCGATAAGCGTACGATTGAGCGTTTTGAGGAAGGAGGCCAACGTATTGGTAAGGGCTCCTTCAAGTACGCGTGGGT- GCTGGCCAAGATGAAGGCCGAGCGTGAGCGCGGTATCACCATCGATATTTCCCTGTGGAAGTTCGAGACGAGGAAGGACTTCTTCACCAT- CATCGATGCACCCGGTCACCGTGACTTCATAAAGAACATGATCACGGGTACCTCCCAGGCTGATGTGGCCATTCTGGTCATTGCCTCCGGC- GCTGGTGAGTTCGAGGCCGGTTACTCGAAGAACGGTCAGACTCGCGAGCACGCTCTTCTTGCCAACACCCTGGGTGTGAAGCAGATGATC- GTGTGCTGCAACAAGATGGATGACAAGTCCGTGAACTACTCCGAGGCTCGTTACAAGGAGATCAAGAACGAGATGACCTCCTTCCTGAC- GAAGGTCGGTTACGCGAAGGTGGAGGAGCGCATTCCTTTCATTCCCATCTCCGGGTTCAACGGTGATAACATGATTGAGCACTCCGCCAA- CATGCCTTGGTACAAGGGACCCACTCTGCTGGAGGCTCTGGACAACGTGCATCCTCCCAAGAGACCCGTGGACAAGCCGCTGCGTCT- GCCCCTGCAGGATGTGTACAAGATTGGCGGTATTGGTACTGTGCCTGTGGGCCGTGTGGAGACGGGTGTGCTGAAGCCCGGCATGAC- CGTGACGTTCGCCCCCGTGAACGTGTCGACTGAAGTGAAGTCTGTGGAAATGCACCACGAGTCCATTCCTCAGGCCCTTCCCGGCGA- CAACGTGGGCTTCAACGTGAACAACGTGTCCGTGGAGGACATTCACCGCGGCAACGTGTGCGGTGACGCCAAGAACGATCCTCCTTG- CAAGACCGAGTCCGACGCTCAGGTGATCGTGATGAACCACCCCTCGGGTATTCGTCCCGGCTACTGCCCTGTCGTGGATTGCCACACTGCT- CACATTGCTTGCAAGTTCGAGAAGATCATGTCCGAGATGGACAAGCGTACTGGCAAGGTCCTCCGTGAGAACCCCGATATCGTGAAGAACG- GCAAGTCCATGATGGCTCAGCTGGTTCCTTCCAAGCCCATGTGCGTGGAGACCTTCTCTGACTATCCTCCTCTTGGTCGTTTCGCTGTCCGT-GATATGAGACAGACTGTCGCTGTCGGTATCATCAAGAGCACTGTCCGTGCCAAGTAAGTTGCGTCGGTGGT

D64080.1

H > H strain

GCTGATGTGGCCATTCTGGTCATCGCCTCCGGCGCTGGTGAGTTCGAGGCCGGTTACTCCAAGAACGGTCAGACTCGTGAGCAC- GCTCTTCTGGCTAACACCCTGGGTGTGAAGCAGATGATCGTGTGCTGCAACAAGATGGATGACAAGTCCGTGAACTACTCCGAGGCTCGT- TACAAGGAGATCAAGAACGAGATGACCTCCTTCCTGACGAAAGTCGGTTACGCGAAGGTGGAGGAGCGCATTCCTTTCATTCCCATCTC- CGGCTTCAACGGTGATAACATGATTGAGCACTCCGCCAACATGCCTTGGTACAAGGGACCCACTCTGCTGGAGGCTCTGGACAACGTG- CATCCTCCCAAGAGACCCGTGGACAAGCCGCTGCGTCTGCCCCTGCAGGATGTGTACAAGATTGGCGGTATTGGTACTGTGCCTGTGGGC- CGTGTGGAGACGGGTGTGCTGAAGCCCGGCATGACCGTGACGTTCGCCCCCGTGAACGTGTCGACTGAAGTGAAGTCTGTGGAAATGCAC- CACGAGTCCATTCCTCAGGCCCTTCCTGGCGACAACGTGGGCTTCAACGTGAAGAACGTGTCCGTGAAGGACATTCACCGCGGCAAC- GTGTGCGGTGACGCCAAGAACGATCCTCCTTGCAAGACGGAGTCCTTCGACGCTCAGGTGATCGTGATGAACCACCCCTCGGGTATTC- GTCCCGGCTACTGCCTGTCGTGGATTGCCACACTGCTCACATTGCTTGCAAGTTCGAGAAGATCATGTCCGAGATGGACAAGCGTACCG-GCAAGGTCCTCCGTGAGAACCCCGATATCGTGAAGAACGGCAAGTCCATGATGGCCATGCTGGTTCCTTCCAAG

Acknowledgements

This research project was sponsored by sup-ported by the National Natural Science Fou- ndation of China (Grant No. 81360256) and the Guangxi Youth Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 2015GXNSFBA139137).

Disclosure of conflict of interest

None.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Huanhuan Shi, De- partment of Parasitology, Guangxi Medical Uni- versity, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, China. Tel: +86-771-5358240; Fax: +86-+86-771-5358240; E-mail: hh. [email protected]

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