# Sexual Development of Cryptosporidium

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2022 · $454,192

## Abstract

Project Abstract
The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is one of the most important causes of severe diarrheal
disease. In the U.S. this parasite is responsible for half of all waterborne disease outbreaks, some
of which have occurred at massive scale. Patients suffering from immunosuppression due to
HIV/AIDS, organ transplantation, or cancer are in gravest danger. The global public health
impact is even larger: after Rotavirus, Cryptosporidium is the most important diarrheal pathogen
in small children. In particular in the context of malnutrition, cryptosporidiosis has a highly
significant imprint on childhood mortality. Cryptosporidiosis is also linked to stunting, thus
leaving a lasting shadow on the future of children. This parasite has a single host life cycle,
asexual and sexual processes occur sequentially in the intestinal epithelium of the same host.
Completion of this developmental program is required for continued infection, severe disease,
and transmission. We have built robust experimental systems to observe and manipulate the
sexual development of Cryptosporidium and we unraveled key elements of the mechanisms that
control the underlying gene expression systems. In this application we will define the epigenetic
mechanisms that govern transition from asexual to sexual replication, we will unravel how the
parasites choses between a male or female fate, and we will use emerging cyro-electron
tomography and parasite genetics to understand how the unique ultrastructure of male gametes
enables fertilization. The resulting findings will impact on our fundamental understanding of
parasite development and on translational efforts to develop drugs and vaccines.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10538894
- **Project number:** 2R01AI127798-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** BORIS STRIEPEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $454,192
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-11-07 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10538894

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10538894, Sexual Development of Cryptosporidium (2R01AI127798-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10538894. Licensed CC0.

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