Cryptosporidiosis is a diarrheal disease caused by microscopic parasites, Cryptosporidium, that can live in the intestine of humans and animals and is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal.ou can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Cryptosporidium may be found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans or animals.
Purinergic receptors, also known as purinoceptors, are a family of plasma membrane molecules that are found in almost all mammalian tissues.1 and P2Y receptors are known to be widely distributed in the brain, heart, kidneys, and adipose tissue. Xanthines (e.g. caffeine) specifically block adenosine receptors, and are known to induce a stimulating effect to one's behavior.
ATP Availability, P2 Receptor Dynamics,and the Purinergic Cascade Under normal physiological conditions, ATP is co-releasedwith a number of neurotransmitters including acetylcholine,norepinephrine, glutamate, g-aminobutyric acid, and neu-ropeptide Y (Burnstock, 1999).TP isreleased into the extracellular space where it formsthe basis of a purinergic cascade. ATP acts directly onP2X and P2Y receptors (see text) and is degraded toADP and AMP by E-NTPase activity. ADP interactswith P2Y T /P2Y 12 receptors, and ATP can block thisresponse.