Researchers from the University of Singapore, working with several strains of Blastocystis sp. subtype 7, report that differences exist between the ability of strains to adhere to intestinal colonic cells. These differences appear to relate to the ability of the cells to increase intestinal permeability, one of the mechanisms that can produce diarrhea in symptomatic individuals. The study suggested that metronidazole resistance was associated with a fitness cost, since cells made resistant to Blastocystis exhibited a lower degree of adhesion. For more information, refer to the paper in PLOS Neglected Pathogens.
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Jul 2015