Blastocystis sp. ST4 strain:WR1 Genome sequencing. Blastocystis sp. subtype 4 strain:WR1

The stramenopile Blastocystis is a common anaerobic protozoa living in the digestive tract of several animal groups. Its prevalence in human often exceeds 5% in industrialized countries and can reach 100% in developing countries. Although the role of Blastocystis as human pathogen remains unclear, it can cause acute or chronic digestive disorders and some epidemiological surveys have suggested an association with irritable bowel syndrome.