Humoral intestinal immunity against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (Microsporidia) infection in mice

Three strains of mice, BALB/c, IL-12 knock-out (KO) and INF-gamma knock-out, were chosen as an experimental model for the study of intestinal immunity induction against Encephalitozoon cuniculi Levaditi, Nicolau et Schoen, 1923 infection. Mice were infected perorally with 10(7) spores and re-infected with the same dose 70 days after the first infection. The anti-E. cuniculi IgA, IgG and IgM responses in sera and extracts of stool samples were determined by ELISA. Results have shown specific antibody production in the sera and intestinal secretions of all three strains of mice induced orally by E. ciniculi spores. BALB/c mice developed a stronger humoral immune response than IL-12 KO mice. The lowest antibody response developed in INF-gamma KO mice that succumbed to the infection within 28 days post infection.     

Entamoeba histolytica: surface proteolytic activity and its relationship with in vitro virulence.

We determined the surface-associated proteolytic activity in three Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903 strains (monoxenic HM1, axenic HM1, and HK9) of known virulence and its relationship with collagenase activity. Both activities were also determined in axenic HM1 amoebae trophozoites which were sensitive and resistant to complement-mediated lysis. Surface proteolytic activity was determined in glutaraldehyde-fixed E. histolytica trophozoites, which degraded the insoluble substrate, hide powder azure, and cleaved the human immunoglobulin G heavy chain in a time-dependent fashion, at neutral pH, in presence of 2-mercaptoethanol as cysteine protease activator. Surface proteolytic activity was strain dependent: monoxenic HM1 > axenic HM1 > axenic HK9. This activity correlated with collagenolytic activity (p < 0.05). Acquisition of resistance to complement-mediated lysis by axenic HM1 strain did not modify either surface proteases or collagenase expression. Our results suggest that this surface proteolytic activity could be used as an in vitro virulence marker for E. histolytica.     

Entamoeba histolytica--the virulence of imported strains

We tested the virulence of 15 strains of Entamoeba histolytica, imported to Czechoslovakia, by intracaecal inoculation of laboratory rats. According to the scoring system of Neal, none of the 15 strains possessed the virulence index greater than 2. This indicates that all the organisms tested should be classified as avirulent. However, it should be noted that all the strains produced infection of the caecum and thus should be considered infective for rat. For 7 strains, isoenzyme patterns were determined for PGM, HK and ME. One imported strain, obtained from student from Congo, demonstrated isoenzyme pattern for PGM and HK indicated that the strain was virulent. This organisms had the index of virulence 1.8 (avirulent) in animal experiment; it was isolated from cysts of clinically asymptomatic patient. Examination of the rectal mucosa of the donor of the strain indicated typical chronic catarrhal proctitis of mild degree. Examination of the patient's serum demonstrated the presence of anti E. histolytica antibodies by CIEP, while the ELISA test was negative. Twenty-one cyst carriers were examined by rectoscopy. Pathologic changes were observed in 20 of these, as follows: altered vascular structure (13X), roughened mucosa (12X), mucosal reddening (10X), decreased glistening (7X), mucus in mucosa (5X), inflammatory pseudopolypes (2X), ulcers (2X), enanthema (1X). Histological biopsies were obtained in 15 cases. One was considered normal. Remaining 14 biopsies exhibited following morphological changes: increased mucus secretion (8X), edema (7X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration (6X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration in addition to the presence of eosinophilic granulocytes (6X), presence of mucophages (5X), haemorrhages (4X), increased vascularity (3X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration with presence of extremely abundant eosinophilic granulocytes (1X), erosive-ulcerative changes of mucosa (1X). The changes observed indicated chronic catarrhal proctitis with expression to greater or less degree of signs of chronic catarrhal inflammation.     

Amoebiasis in foreign students

A total of 2,883 foreign students at the age of 18-30 years were examined for amoebiasis after their arrival to Czechoslovakia. Stool examinations revealed the presence of Entamoeba histolytica in 112 of them (3.9%). Students from 38 countries were found to be infected with this parasite. In a set of 2,064 students from these countries E. histolytica prevalence in stool was 5.4%. There were greater differences in the prevalence between individual countries inside a geographical region than between individual geographical regions. The highest E. histolytica prevalence in stool was found in students from tropical and southern Africa (6.7% of 745 examined) and the lowest in students from South-eastern Asia (3.1% of 321 examined). In a simple cross-section study, antibodies against E. histolytica were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the sera of 1,001 persons. Antibodies were detected in 7.9% of students at the following titres: 1:200 in 4.5%, 1:600 in 1.5%, 1:1,800 in 1.9%. Antibodies occurred more frequently in students carrying E. histolytica cysts (X2 = 14.9). Titre of ELISA antibodies in patients with confirmed liver abscess was higher than 1:1,800. counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIEP) test was used for serum examinations of patients who had been demonstrated by ELISA to be seropositive and of those carrying E. histolytica cysts. In a set of 170 patients CIEP antibodies were also more frequent in those carrying E. histolytica cysts (X2 = 26.95). A comparison of the results of ELISA and CIEP tests in the same patients revealed that CIEP antibodies were more dependent on the actual parasitization with E. histolytica than ELISA antibodies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Entamoeba polecki: morphology, immunology, antigen study and clinic of the first infections in Czechoslovakia

Entamoeba polecki Prowazek, 1912 was recorded for the first time in Czechoslovakia in two students from Kampuchea. Uninucleated cysts of diameter 14.2-15.7 micron with nuclei diameter 3.2-4.2 micron were found-repeatedly in stool samples taken from them. The nucleus accounted in average for 24.3% of the cyst diameter. The isolation and two following subinoculations on Dobell-Leidlaw medium were achieved, more abundant growth was recorded on medium with pig serum. Sera of both students were positive in serological tests using the E. histolytica antigen. No serious clinical symptoms were observed, both patients were cured successfully by metronidazole and ornidazole. Electroimmunotransfer blots were used to characterize E. polecki as a separate species. The antigenic structure of polyxenically grown E. polecki was compared with the antigenic structure of E. histolytica (axenically grown HK-9 strain and 3 polyxenically grown strains). Different blot patterns of both species were obtained, but common fractions of 30-40 kD probably responsible for serological cross-reactions were found.     

甜樱桃流胶病原菌的分子鉴定和致病性检测

 为明确甜樱桃流胶病的病原菌,采用普通细菌学方法从15个病样中分离获得10个代表性菌株,对病原菌的形态学特征、生理生化特性以及致病性进行了研究。利用PCR对菌株的16S-23S rDNA转录间隔区(ITS)序列进行扩增,扩增产物克隆测序,结果显示该菌株属于丁香假单胞菌(Pseudomonas syringae)。用MegAlign构建系统发育树,结果显示该菌株与丁香假单胞菌丁香致病变种(P. syringae pv. syringae)亲缘关系最近,两者最先聚在一起。分离菌株中均可检测到syrB基因。研究结果表明P. syringae pv. syringae为甜樱桃流胶病的病原菌。     

梨黑星病菌对氟硅唑的敏感性及与不同杀菌剂之间的交互抗性

采用孢子芽管长度法,测定了采自河北省不同地区的88个梨黑星病菌 Venturia nashicola 菌株对氟硅唑的敏感性,并测定了10个相对敏感菌株和5个相对抗性菌株对甲基硫菌灵、醚菌酯、福美双和苯醚甲环唑的敏感性。结果表明:不同地区黑星病菌对氟硅唑的敏感性存在一定差异,平均EC50值为(1.3821±0.9276)μg/mL;氟硅唑对未使用过麦角甾醇生物合成抑制剂(EBI)类杀菌剂的75个梨黑星病菌菌株的平均EC50值为(1.1676±0.6128)μg/mL,最大值是最小值的16.91倍,其敏感性分布频率呈连续性单峰曲线,且符合正态分布,故可作为敏感基线用于监测田间梨黑星病菌对氟硅唑的敏感性变化。不同菌株对5种药剂的敏感性相互关系分析表明,氟硅唑和苯醚甲环唑之间呈显著正相关,但与醚菌酯、甲基硫菌灵和福美双之间均不存在交互抗性关系。     

Isozyme and amplified fragment length polymorphisms fromCephalosporium maydis in Egypt

Isoenzyme and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) variation within a set of 48 isolates ofCephalosporium maydis was characterized. These isolates included ten cultures that have served as standards in the Egyptian maize resistance breeding program and 38 additional strains collected from 11 governates in Egypt during the 1997 growing season. Eight isozymes also were tested, but only five (acid phosphatase, fumerase, gtucose 4-phosphate isomerase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and malate dehydrogenase) produced identifiable bands and all five of these enzymes were monomorphic. Sixty-eight AFLP primer-pair combinations were used and 865 bands were scored, of which 288 (33%) were polymorphic and could be used to discriminate four distinct subgroups, or lineages. Representatives from only two of the four lineages are included in the set of ten strains that has been used to challenge new lines in the Egyptian maize breeding program. From among these 68 primer-pair combinations, we identified a set of four AFLP primer-pairs that were strongly correlated (Pearson‘sr > 0.85) with the full data set that can be used as markers to determine the distribution of these lineages and to identify new lineages in field populations.     

Vegetative compatibility grouping in Botrytis cinerea using sulphate non-utilizing mutants

Twenty-one strains of Botrytis cinerea isolated from six plant species on ten sites throughout Israel, as well as a strain from France, were tested for vegetative and mycelial incompatibility, pathogenicity, resistance to the fungicides carbendazim and iprodione, and colony morphology. Selenate-resistant mutants were isolated from the strains as spontaneous, fast-growing sectors arising from restricted colonies on medium amended with sodium selenate with a mean frequency of 0.04 sectors/colony; 81% of the sectors were sulphate non-utilizing (sul) mutants. One hundred and four sul mutants were divided into two complementary groups: resistant (66 mutants) and sensitive to chromate. Based on compatibility reactions between chromate-resistant and chromate-sensitive sul mutants, 12 strains were compatible only with themselves and were each classified as belonging to different vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs). Nine strains were each compatible with one to three other strains, and were assembled into three multi-member VCGs. Mycelial incompatibility between wild-type strains (barrage), in the form of a zone of dark pigmentation or sparse mycelium with or without dark pigmentation of the agar along the line of confrontation, was observed for 70% of the inter-strain pairings. There was no correspondence in compatibility between strains revealed by two approaches: strains in different VCGs did not necessarily produce a barrage. However, self-compatibility was observed both as heterokaryon formation between complementary sul mutants and as an absence of barrages between mycelia of wild-type strains; wild-type strains belonging to the same VCG did not exhibit strong barrages, although weak antagonistic reactions were observed. Strains in two multi-member VCGs showed the same patterns of resistance to carbendazim and iprodione; the third multi-member VCG contained isolates with different patterns of resistance. Four morphological types were revealed among wild-type strains: conidial (five strains), sclerotial (six strains), intermediate (ten strains), and mycelial (one strain). On bean leaves, conidial strains were more aggressive than sclerotial strains.     

Note: Comparison of three laboratory methods to evaluate the pathogenicity and virulence of tenPseudomonas syringae pv.syringae strains on apple, pear, cherry and peach trees

The pathogenicity and virulence of ten GreekPseudomonas syringae pv.syringae strains from different hosts (citrus, pear, apple, peach and cherry) were evaluated using three different laboratory methods, which produced results in good agreement. All ten strains were virulent on apple, pear, cherry and peach trees. The extent of tissue colonized varied considerably among strains and cultivars. On excised shoots and twigs of apple and pear, strains BPI 176, BPI 203, PI 2 and PI 14 were the most virulent and strains BPI 689, BPI 992, BPI 4, BPI 20, PI 18 and PI 19 were the least virulent. On excised shoots and twigs of peach and cherry, strains BPI 176, BPI 203, PI 2, PI 14, PI 18 and PI 19 were the most virulent and strains BPI 4 and BPI 20 were the least virulent. Moderate virulence was evinced by strains BPI 689 and BPI 992. These pathogenicity assays are proposed as rapid and reproducible screening systems to evaluate the susceptibility of apple, pear, cherry and peach cultivars to this bacterial pathogen.     

黄瓜霜霉病菌抗氟吗啉菌株的适合度研究

 采用离体叶盘法和活体植株法,测定了从田间分离获得的对氟吗啉具有抗药性的黄瓜霜霉病菌菌株和通过室内紫外线诱变获得的对氟吗啉及对照药剂烯酰吗啉和嘧菌酯产生抗药性的突变菌株的生存适合度。试验结果表明,室内诱导获得的氟吗啉和烯酰吗啉抗药性突变菌株的适合度明显低于敏感菌株和嘧菌酯抗药性突变体及田产氟吗啉抗药性菌株,主要表现在菌株的侵染率、产孢能力和致病力的减弱。室内获得的氟吗啉和烯酰吗啉抗药性突变体和敏感菌株混合接种、继代培养后,其抗药菌株的检出率在混合群体中逐渐降低,其中抗性突变体FR4和敏感菌株以2:8的比例混合接种、培养7代后,其无性后代中检测不到抗药性菌株的存在,表明室内氟吗啉抗药性突变体竞争力弱于敏感菌株;而田间氟吗啉抗药性菌株和室内嘧菌酯抗药性突变体则表现出和敏感菌株相似或更强的竞争力,预示田间自然情况下抗药性菌株存在着可能形成优势菌群而导致药剂防治失败的潜在风险。     

Monitoring of insecticide resistance in damson hop aphid,Phorodon humuli Schrank (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from German hop gardens

The damson hop aphid, Phorodon humuli (Schrank) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most important sucking pests of many hop-growing areas world-wide. In this study we determined the efficacy of several insecticides against strains collected throughout the year 2001. All strains were collected in different hop gardens in the Hallertau (Bavaria), Germany, the largest hop-growing area of the world. First of all we established a leaf dip bioassay, carried out using six-well tissue culture plates and appropriate for monitoring susceptibility against imidacloprid, oxydemeton-methyl, cyfluthrin, amitraz, pymetrozine and pirimicarb. Four of these compounds, imidacloprid, cyfluthrin, pymetrozine and amitraz, are currently registered for the control of sucking pests in German hop gardens and are useful against P. humuli. The leaf-dip bioassay system turned out to be very reliable and robust. Ten P. humuli strains were collected in May 2001 and maintained in the laboratory to assess their resistance to the different insecticides in comparison with two laboratory reference strains (H2 and H5). Using diagnostic concentrations, resistance monitoring for imidacloprid and cyfluthrin was investigated during July and August 2001 on 53 populations from 30 sites around the Hallertau, an area of ca 2500 km2. Resistance to diagnostic concentrations (LC95 for reference strains) of imidacloprid, amitraz and pymetrozine was not detected in any strain received in 2001, but late-season (August) populations seemed to respond more heterogeneously than those collected mid-season (July). Overall composite mean mortalities to diagnostic concentrations of imidacloprid (13 mg litre(-1)) in collections from May, July and August were 95 (+/-2.5), 98 (+/-2.3) and 87 (+/-5.9)%, respectively. Moderate resistance to pyrethroids was observed in all strains collected in May and August using a diagnostic concentrations of 10 mg litre(-1) cyfluthrin (LC95 of the susceptible reference strain H5). Slight to moderate resistance to diagnostic concentrations of oxydemeton-methyl and pirimicarb was observed in some, but not all, strains collected early season. The results are discussed in terms of the implemention of hop aphid resistance management strategies in German hop-cultivation areas.     

Molecular Diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum Isolated from Ginger in Hawaii

ABSTRACT The genetic diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum strains isolated from ginger (Zingiber officinale) growing on the island of Hawaii was determined by analysis of amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). Initially 28 strains of R. solanacearum collected from five host plant species worldwide were analyzed by AFLP. A second analysis was conducted on 55 R. solanacearum strains collected from three ginger farms along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii, the principle area of ginger cultivation in the state. From the initial analysis, R. solanacearum strains from ginger in Hawaii showed a high degree of similarity at 0.853. In contrast, the average genetic similarity between R. solanacearum strains from heliconia and ginger was only 0.165, and strains from ginger showed little similarity with strains from all other hosts. The second analysis of 55 strains from ginger on different Hawaiian farms confirmed that they were distinct from race 1 strains from tomato. Strains from ginger also showed greater diversity among themselves in the second analysis, and the greatest diversity occurred among strains from a farm where ginger is frequently imported and maintained. Our results provide evidence that R. solanacearum strains from ginger in Hawaii are genetically distinct from local strains from tomato (race 1) and heliconia (race 2).     

半夏细菌性软腐病原菌的分离及鉴定

 在浙江省人工栽培的半夏[Pinellia ternata(Thunb.) Breit.]上发现一种新的软腐病害,软腐症状常常表现在块茎上,高温高湿条件可导致叶面腐烂和整株死亡。为了对病原菌进行鉴定,从软腐的半夏病株块茎中分离到10个菌株,分别指定为RF1~RF10,并进行了致病性测定、形态观察和细菌学特性分析,同时对RF1菌株进行了分子鉴定。结果表明,10个菌株均可经人工接种导致半夏、胡萝卜、马铃薯、番茄、黄瓜和白菜软腐。在电镜下菌体呈短杆状,两端钝圆,具有4~6根周生鞭毛。兼性厌氧、革兰氏阴性,DNA中G+C mol%为51。RF1菌株的16S rDNA测序和系统发育学分析表明,其与胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜软腐亚种(Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum)M1菌株报告的序列相同点为99%,与该亚种另2个菌株(E161和441)的序列相同点达97%。结果表明,半夏软腐病原菌应归属于胡萝卜软腐果胶杆菌胡萝卜软腐亚种。     

Molecular characterization of the Fusarium graminearum species complex in Japan

Members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex are important cereal pathogens worldwide and belong to one of at least nine phylogenetically distinct species. We examined 298 strains of the F. graminearum species complex collected from wheat or barley in Japan to determine the species and trichothecene chemotype. Phylogenetic analyses and species-diagnostic polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLPs) revealed the presence and differential distribution of F. graminearum sensu stricto (s. str.) and F. asiaticum in Japan. F. graminearum s. str. is predominant in the north, especially in the Hokkaido area, while F. asiaticum is predominant in southern regions. In the Tohoku area, these species co-occurred. Trichothecene chemotyping of all strains by multiplex PCR revealed significantly different chemotype compositions of these species. All 50 strains of F. graminearum s. str. were of a 15- or 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol type, while 173 (70%) out of 246 strains of F. asiaticum were of a nivalenol type. The possibility of gene flow between the two species was investigated by use of 15 PCR-RFLP markers developed in this study. However, no obvious hybrids were detected from 98 strains examined, including strains collected from regions where both species co-occur.     

Alternative oxidase reduces the sensitivity of Mycosphaerella graminicola to QOI fungicides

Forty-six (1.5%) of nearly 3000 isolates of Mycosphaerella graminicola assayed in vitro were resistant to the QOI fungicide azoxystrobin, but on sub-culturing only ten remained resistant. Cross-resistance extended to other QOIs, but varied between different isolates. In planta the resistant isolates were not well controlled, especially at lower azoxystrobin dose rates. Propyl gallate, an inhibitor of alternative oxidase, potentiated the activity of azoxystrobin in vitro so that resistance was no longer observed. The growth of resistant strains in the presence of azoxystrobin led to alternative oxidase activation. This increased flexibility in respiration allows resistant strains to survive in the presence of a QOI fungicide. Under these conditions, selection for target-site mutations can occur. Using QOIs preventatively reduces the risk of resistance since the alternative oxidase cannot by itself generate all the energy needed for germination and early infection.     

尖镰孢菌EST-SSR遗传多样性分析及通用性评价

为了解38株尖镰孢菌的遗传多样性并开发可在近缘镰孢菌种中通用的尖镰孢菌EST-SSR标记,利用设计和筛选的18对多态性EST-SSR引物对38株尖镰孢菌和5种近缘镰孢菌进行SSRPCR扩增,经6%非变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶分离扩增产物,并用NTSYS软件分析供试尖镰孢菌的PCR扩增结果。结果表明,18对EST-SSR标记引物在38株尖镰孢菌中检测到75条多态性条带,多态性比率达92.6%,平均每对引物可扩增4.2条;各菌株间的遗传相似系数介于0.565~0.946之间,平均为0.721;来源于同科寄主植物群体的菌株间的平均遗传相似系数以葫芦科最大,锦葵科最小,依次为葫芦科兰科豆科亚麻科茄科锦葵科。在相似系数为0.756时,供试38株菌有35株按照不同科寄主植物聚为不同的类群,说明尖镰孢菌SSR类群的划分与其寄主来源具有一定的相关性。18对EST-SSR引物在近缘镰孢菌种中均能有效扩增的引物数及通用性比率为10对和55.6%,均显示多态性的引物有2对,占供试引物总数的11.1%。表明尖镰孢菌ESTSSR区域遗传多样性丰富,基于尖镰孢菌EST序列开发镰孢菌通用SSR标记是可行的。     

Characterisation of black locust isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peanut stunt virus</Emphasis> (PSV) from the Pannon ecoregion show the frequent occurrence of the fourth taxonomic PSV subgroup

Biological and molecular characterisation of ten Peanut stunt virus (PSV) isolates from Robinia pseudoacacia was carried out. The host range of these isolates was similar to that of the previously described PSV strains in most cases, but on Pisum sativum and Lens culinaris latent infection was induced. Variability in systemic symptoms was observed only on Nicotiana glutinosa. The partial RNA3 sequences were determined, including the carboxyl terminal region of the movement protein gene, the intergenic region, the entire coat protein gene and the 3′ untranslated region. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the coat protein genes showed 77.6–84.2% identity with most of the known PSV strains and 96.3–98.0% identity with PSV-Rp the typical member of subgroup IV. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the presence of the ancient homologous recombination in all of the examined black locust isolates and all the isolates were members of the fourth PSV subgroup. These results showed that the isolates of the fourth subgroup are widely distributed in black locust in this region.     

北京市湿地入侵植物群落与本地植物群落的生物多样性比较

为明确外来入侵植物对本地湿地植物多样性的影响，在北京市湿地选择23个样地共245个样方进行物种多样性调查，并从不同植物性状数据库获取样方中所有植物的株高、叶长、叶宽、叶面积和比叶面积等10个功能性状数据，对比分析入侵群落与本地群落的物种多样性、系统发育多样性和功能多样性特征。结果显示，在北京市湿地共记录到26种外来入侵草本植物，隶属10科19属，其中，菊科外来入侵植物种类最多，有10种。除比叶面积、叶片碳含量和株高的系统发育信号显著外，其余7种植物功能性状的系统发育信号均不显著，表明大多数功能性状未表现出系统发育保守性。入侵群落所有物种的物种多样性指标Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、物种丰富度指数和Simpson优势度指数以及系统发育多样性指标谱系多样性和平均最近谱系发育距离均显著高于本地群落和入侵群落本地物种，而入侵群落本地物种的功能分散指数和Rao''Q二次熵指数均显著高于本地群落，表明外来物种入侵改变了湿地植物的生物多样性，且外来物种入侵后群落谱系多样性趋于发散，说明与本地植物亲缘关系越远的入侵物种越容易在湿地群落中建立种群，符合达尔文归化假说。     

Contribution to the problem of the so-called nonpathogenic amoebae in the intestine of man.

Among 10,418 patients of a Prague hospital, a plain infection with intestinal parasitic protozoans was identified in 1,319 persons (12.7%). Of these, 3.5% were infested with Giardia intestinalis, 0.3% with Entamoeba histolytica forma minuta, 5.7% with Endolimax nana. We evaluated the frequency of findings of protozoans in various clinical diagnoses. A statistically significant increase in frequency was recorded for E. nana in diagnoses of eosinophilia, giardiasis, amoebiasis and helminthiasis. A slight increase above the average was found for Entamoeba coli in diagnoses of giardiasis and helminthiasis. Most cases of infection with Entamoeba histolytica were associated with a stay abroad. No increase in the frequency of these protozoans was recorded for patients with diarrhea. An analysis of the results indicated that a nonpathogenic amoeba might participate in the origin of intestinal disorders in man.