结构生物学在溶组织内阿米巴致病机制研究中的应用

Application of structural biology in the pathogenesis of Entamoeba histolytica

溶组织内阿米巴(Entamoeba histolytica,Eh)是寄生于人类肠道的原生动物,可引起阿米巴性结肠炎和肠外脓肿。结构生物学在原子水平上研究生命大分子结构和功能,是一种重要的生物学研究方法,经过半个多世纪的理论和技术发展,已应用于生物学和基础医学的各个研究领域。本文综述了目前结构生物学的研究技术,并以阿米巴穿孔素A和半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂为例介绍结构生物学在Eh致病机制研究中的应用,总结了今后结构生物学在Eh研究领域可能的应用方向和研究热点。

Entamoeba histolytica(Eh)is an enteric parasite which could cause diseases such as amoebic colitis and extra intestinal abscess.Structural biology is a discipline that studies the structure and function of biological macromolecules at the atomic level.After its theoretical and technological development for more than half a century,structural biology has become an important research method and is gradually applied to research of biology and basic medicine.In this paper,we reviewed the development of structural biology techniques and their applications in the research of pathogenesis of Eh.We also predicted the future application and research interests of structural biology in the field of Eh.