Amebae

Amebae, represented here by Entamoeba histolytica, function as invasive protozoan parasites whose trophozoites adhere to host cells, ingest erythrocytes, and contribute to intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis^[1][2]. Mechanistically, Gal/GalNAc lectin mediates adherence required for cytolysis and phagocytosis, linking surface recognition to tissue damage^[2][3]. Cysteine proteases cleave MUC2 mucin and dissolve the protective colonic mucus gel, supporting epithelial invasion in invasive amebiasis^[4]. In disease models, reduced phagocytosis decreased virulence, and PATMK inhibition blocked red-cell ingestion and impaired gut colonization and invasion^[1][5]. Compared with morphologically similar E. dispar, E. histolytica is the pathogenic species, while molecular assays distinguish these related amebae in diagnostic and research settings^[6]. For experimental applications, high-throughput screening identified auranofin as active against E. histolytica and implicated thioredoxin reductase as a drug target^[7].