Electron micrograph of an Enterocytozoon bieneusi spore. Arrows indicate the double rows of polar tubule coils in cross section which characterize a mature E. bieneusi spore. Photo by Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Center for Global Health

The genome sequence and gene predictions of Enterocytozoon bieneusi were not determined by the JGI, but were downloaded from NCBI and have been published (Donna E. Akiyoshi et al., 2009). Please note that this copy of the genome is not maintained by the author and is therefore not automatically updated.

Microsporidiosis is considered a zoonotic and waterborne disease with agricultural consequence because it affects insects, livestock, wildlife, and domestic animals as well as humans. Fourteen microsporidian species are associated with human disease, but the majority of infections are caused by Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Clinical symptoms include chronic diarrhea, wasting and cholangitis. The majority of microsporidian infections in humans occur in immunocompromised patients, but occurrence in immunocompetent hosts is not unusual. Presently there is no effective commercial treatment for E. bieneusi-associated human microsporidiosis; although albendazole and fumagillin have been shown to be effective against Encephalitozoon-associated infections and fumagillin has efficacy against E. bieneusi.