Scientists crack the genome of the parasite causing trichomoniasis

A color-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of Trichomonas vaginalis (green) and vaginal tissue (pink). Sequencing the genome of T. vaginalis has given the researchers gory reading material on some of the pathogen's foul habits. The parasite latches onto vaginal tissue and forms tendril-like projections into it. The pathogen also secretes a series of proteins which destroy vaginal epithelial cells. Credit: Antonio Pereira-Neves and Marlene Benchimol, Santa Ursula University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.