Genome sequence of Trichomonas vaginalis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a common but often neglected sexually transmitted pathogen that colonizes the urogenital tract in men and women. Carlton et al. describes its genome, which at 160 megabases is significantly larger than any other parasitic protest known so far, and which provides insight into the parabasilids, which lack mitochodria and peroxisomes and instead bear organelles called hydrogenosomes. The highly repetitive nature of this genome, which expands its genome size and hence cell volume, might provide the parasite with a selective advantage for the phagocytosis of bacteria and host epithelial cells.


Source:
Draft Genome Sequence of the Sexually Transmitted Pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis. Jane M. Carlton et al. Science 12 January 2007 : Vol. 315. no. 5809, pp. 207 - 212.