VOLUME 11 NUMBER 1 (January to June 2018)

PSL%202018 vol11-no01-p39-60%20Adao%20and%20Rivera

Philipp. Sci. Lett. 2018 11 (1) 039-060
available online: June 29, 2018

*Corresponding author
Email Address: wlrivera@science.upd.edu.ph
Date Received: January 09, 2018
Date Revised: May 06, 2018
Date Accepted: May 07, 2018

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REVIEW

Recent advances in Blastocystis sp. research

by Davin Edric V. Adao^1,2 and Windell L. Rivera^1,2,*

¹Institute of Biology, College of Science, University of the Philippines Diliman,
     Quezon City, Philippines
²Pathogen-Host-Environment Interactions Research Laboratory,
     Natural Sciences Research Institute, University of the Philippines Diliman,
     Quezon City, Philippines

Blastocystis sp. is a eukaryotic protozoan symbiont commonly found in the gut of humans and animals. Its role in the gut remains controversial due to conflicting reports of its pathogenicity. This paper provides a review of its morphology, life cycle, potential pathogenicity, subtype diversity, treatment, and detection based on latest research. Studies on Blastocystis sp. in the Philippines are also summarized with recommended future directions.