Apicomplexa (also known as Apicomplexia) are a large phylum of parasitic organisms. They are mostly unicellular and spore-forming in nature. Apicomplexa are parasites of humans and terrestrial animals and have been implicated in parasitic diseases of marine animals. Some parasitic diseases of economic importance caused by Apicomplexa include Babesiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Cystoisosporiasis, Malaria, and Toxoplasmosis.
Diseases caused by Apicomplexa are responsible for the deaths of millions of humans, livestock, and wild animals. The economic losses from these diseases annually on a global scale are quite astronomical. While great efforts in epidemiology, vector control, and used of medicinal drugs have been very helpful in bringing reduced incidence around the world and there are a great deal of advancements toward the eradication of Apicomplexa-based disease, elimination is far from being in sight, especially with the current rise of drug-resistance in these organisms. Controlling, preventing, and eliminating apicomplexans is dependent on a better understanding of their genetics, mechanisms of infection, and immunity control methods (such as drugs/vaccines and vector control methods).
Apicomplexa infect humans, livestock, wild and domesticated animals, birds, and aquatic organisms. The mode of infection in most cases is well-defined, but knowledge of the genetics of infection, host-parasite interaction, vector control, and candidate vaccines have been challenging and require in-depth study to facilitate improvement in management towards elimination.
Knowledge of vector and parasite biology and vector-parasite interactions is beginning to stimulate new concepts and tools for control, management, and policy formulation. However, there is not enough information on the use of genetics and omics tools in tracking mechanisms and pathways through which Apicomplexa develop, manipulate host biology, and mediated immune regulation; therefore, proper understanding of these processes and the role of genetics and OMICs technology in these processes is required, particularly as the world is striving at various elimination target dates for Apicomplexa-induced diseases.
This Research Topic focuses on the latest research developments applying genetics and genomics in defining, diagnosing, and managing drugs and vaccine development for control and eradication of diseases including (but not limited to) Babesiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Cystoisosporiasis, Malaria, and Toxoplasmosis. Considering the diversity of diseases caused by Apicomplexa parasites that contribute largely to neglected parasitic infectious diseases, these deserve serious and urgent attention.
We welcome prospective authors to contribute Original Research and Review articles covering the following topics:
• Genetics underlying immune regulation, vector control, and host-parasite interactions in Apicomplexan parasitic diseases;
• Genetic modulation of the vector immune system by midgut microbiota;
• Molecular evolution of parasite antigens and mechanisms of immune evasion;
• Genomic detection of Apicomplexan parasitic diseases;
• Bioinformatics and allele-based vaccine candidates for Apicomplexan parasitic diseases.
Apicomplexa (also known as Apicomplexia) are a large phylum of parasitic organisms. They are mostly unicellular and spore-forming in nature. Apicomplexa are parasites of humans and terrestrial animals and have been implicated in parasitic diseases of marine animals. Some parasitic diseases of economic importance caused by Apicomplexa include Babesiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Cystoisosporiasis, Malaria, and Toxoplasmosis.
Diseases caused by Apicomplexa are responsible for the deaths of millions of humans, livestock, and wild animals. The economic losses from these diseases annually on a global scale are quite astronomical. While great efforts in epidemiology, vector control, and used of medicinal drugs have been very helpful in bringing reduced incidence around the world and there are a great deal of advancements toward the eradication of Apicomplexa-based disease, elimination is far from being in sight, especially with the current rise of drug-resistance in these organisms. Controlling, preventing, and eliminating apicomplexans is dependent on a better understanding of their genetics, mechanisms of infection, and immunity control methods (such as drugs/vaccines and vector control methods).
Apicomplexa infect humans, livestock, wild and domesticated animals, birds, and aquatic organisms. The mode of infection in most cases is well-defined, but knowledge of the genetics of infection, host-parasite interaction, vector control, and candidate vaccines have been challenging and require in-depth study to facilitate improvement in management towards elimination.
Knowledge of vector and parasite biology and vector-parasite interactions is beginning to stimulate new concepts and tools for control, management, and policy formulation. However, there is not enough information on the use of genetics and omics tools in tracking mechanisms and pathways through which Apicomplexa develop, manipulate host biology, and mediated immune regulation; therefore, proper understanding of these processes and the role of genetics and OMICs technology in these processes is required, particularly as the world is striving at various elimination target dates for Apicomplexa-induced diseases.
This Research Topic focuses on the latest research developments applying genetics and genomics in defining, diagnosing, and managing drugs and vaccine development for control and eradication of diseases including (but not limited to) Babesiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Cystoisosporiasis, Malaria, and Toxoplasmosis. Considering the diversity of diseases caused by Apicomplexa parasites that contribute largely to neglected parasitic infectious diseases, these deserve serious and urgent attention.
We welcome prospective authors to contribute Original Research and Review articles covering the following topics:
• Genetics underlying immune regulation, vector control, and host-parasite interactions in Apicomplexan parasitic diseases;
• Genetic modulation of the vector immune system by midgut microbiota;
• Molecular evolution of parasite antigens and mechanisms of immune evasion;
• Genomic detection of Apicomplexan parasitic diseases;
• Bioinformatics and allele-based vaccine candidates for Apicomplexan parasitic diseases.