Comparative Biochemical and Restriction Endonuclease Digestion Pattern Analysis of Indian and Portland-1 Strains of Giardia lamblia

Abstract

Biochemical and restriction enzyme analysis were carried out to compare two Indian and one Portland (USA) isolate of Giardia lamblia. Electrophoretic isoenzyme patterns of four enzymes namely, Acid phosphatase (ACP), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), and Phospho glucomutase (PGM) revealed three different zymodemes amongst three isolates in 5% polyacrylamide gel. Each isolate differs from the other in two or more enzymes out of four enzymes studied. Significant differences were observed within the two Indian isolates in ICDH and ALP enzymes. Differences were also noticed between the Indian and Portland isolates in the electrophoretic migration patterns in PGM and ICDH enzyme systems. Heterogeneity among G. lamblia isolates is, therefore, postulated within the same area and in different geographical locations based on the isoenzyme studies. ICDH and ALP enzymes were used for first time in the study and found useful in differentiation of G. lamblia isolates. The restriction enzyme digestion pattern of DNA from the isolates showed no marked differences, thereby suggesting the development of gene specific probe for such studies.