To the Editor:

I have read with great interest the article “Decoding Cryptosporidium” and would like to make a few clarifications.

First, Dr. Mitchell Abrahamsen (Cryptosporidium parvum genome project leader) is at the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine, rather than the College of Medicine.

Secondly, the statement “the C. parvum mitochondrial genome is very much reduced” is wrong, because there is no mitochondrial genome at all in this parasite. However, a few mitochondrial-associated proteins have been found in the C. parvum nuclear genome, suggesting the presence of highly degenerate mitochondria in this parasite.

Thirdly, the article appears to imply the lack of an apicoplast in C. parvum was discovered by the genome project. In fact, we had published our data on the lack of an apicoplast in this parasite in 2000. The genome project actually confirms our original data and hypothesis.

Sincerely,

Guan Zhu, PhD (gzhu@cvm.tamu.edu)

Texas A&M University

To the Editor:

I am appalled by the Bush administration's decision to restrict US scientists' and bioethicists' right to freely travel to Cuba for the IV international Symposium on Coma and Death. By this action, the Bush administration reaffirms its already unacceptable control over federal scientists and bioethicists by firing them when they do not share its political and ideological views.

But I am equally disturbed that no one of the 70 US scientists and ethicists has attempted to resist this interdiction and venture to travel to Cuba via Canada or Mexico. Lamentations are necessary, but not sufficient. Only acts of resistance are likely to alert the public and put pressure on the administration to abandon its continuing attempt to dictate matters of science and ethics by political ideology and enforce it with repressive and intimidating tactics usually seen only in police states.

Evelyne Shuster, PhD (evelyneshuster1@msn.com)

University of Pennsylvania Health System