Editing Entamoeba (section)

==Differentiation and cell biology==
[[Uninucleate]]d trophozoites convert into cysts in a process called encystation. The number of nuclei in the cyst varies from 1 to 8 among species and is one of the characteristics used to tell species apart. Of the species already mentioned, ''Entamoeba coli'' forms cysts with 8 nuclei while the others form tetra-nucleated cysts. Since ''E. histolytica'' does not form cysts ''in vitro'' in the absence of bacteria, it is not possible to study the differentiation process in detail in that species. Instead the differentiation process is studied using ''E. invadens'', a reptilian parasite that causes a very similar disease to ''E. histolytica'' and which can be induced to encyst ''in vitro''. Until recently there was no genetic transfection vector available for this organism and detailed study at the cellular level was not possible. However, recently a transfection vector was developed and the transfection conditions for ''E. invadens'' were optimised which should enhance the research possibilities at the  molecular level of the differentiation process.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Singh|first=Nishant |author2=Ojha, Sandeep |author3=Bhattacharya, Alok |author4=Bhattacharya, Sudha|title=Establishment of a transient transfection system and expression of firefly luciferase in ''Entamoeba invadens''|journal=Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology|date=2012 |volume=183|issue=1|pages=90–93|doi=10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.01.003|pmid=22321531 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Singh|first=Nishant |author2=Ojha, Sandeep |author3=Bhattacharya, Alok |author4=Bhattacharya, Sudha|title=Stable transfection and continuous expression of heterologous genes in ''Entamoeba invadens''|journal=Molecular and Biochemical Parasitology|date=2012 |volume=184|issue=1|pages=9–12|doi=10.1016/j.molbiopara.2012.02.012|pmid=22426570 }}</ref>