About this Research Topic
The parasitic relationship between protozoa and their hosts involves the balance between the pathogen virulence and the invertebrate and vertebrate immune responses. Protozoa show many ways of evading host defenses, including macromolecules secretion and resistance to oxidative species.
A better understanding of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in redox balance could contribute to the comprehension of crucial checkpoints responsible for the success of the infection of both invertebrates and vertebrates, and consequently for the development of novel anti-parasitic strategies.
The pivotal biological role of reactive oxygen species has been extensively reported during protozoa infection. Antioxidant enzymes have been also described as virulence factors, reinforcing the complexity of these molecular processes. The accumulated knowledge about oxidative balance during parasite-host interactions may lead to the development of drug prototypes and vaccines, which can be used in preclinical and clinical trials. Despite some very promising data, solid alternatives for protozoan illnesses, especially for neglected diseases, are still lacking.
This Research Topic welcomes Reviews or Original Research articles addressing:
• cellular, molecular and biochemical aspects of the interaction between pathogenic
protozoa and their hosts, invertebrates or vertebrates with regards to
antioxidant/redox mechanism;
• the oxidative balance of protozoa mechanisms of survival/escape, and host
immune response;
• novel strategies for parasite elimination with a focus on antioxidant/redox
pathways;
• redox mechanisms of pathogenic protozoa and their participation during protozoa-
host interactions;
• the antioxidant pathways and functionalities of non-canonical organelles of the parasites involved in redox metabolism (glycosomes for example);
• the development and/or mechanistic proposals of pro- or anti-oxidant drugs.
A better understanding of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in redox balance could contribute to the comprehension of crucial checkpoints responsible for the success of the infection of both invertebrates and vertebrates, and consequently for the development of novel anti-parasitic strategies.
The pivotal biological role of reactive oxygen species has been extensively reported during protozoa infection. Antioxidant enzymes have been also described as virulence factors, reinforcing the complexity of these molecular processes. The accumulated knowledge about oxidative balance during parasite-host interactions may lead to the development of drug prototypes and vaccines, which can be used in preclinical and clinical trials. Despite some very promising data, solid alternatives for protozoan illnesses, especially for neglected diseases, are still lacking.
This Research Topic welcomes Reviews or Original Research articles addressing:
• cellular, molecular and biochemical aspects of the interaction between pathogenic
protozoa and their hosts, invertebrates or vertebrates with regards to
antioxidant/redox mechanism;
• the oxidative balance of protozoa mechanisms of survival/escape, and host
immune response;
• novel strategies for parasite elimination with a focus on antioxidant/redox
pathways;
• redox mechanisms of pathogenic protozoa and their participation during protozoa-
host interactions;
• the antioxidant pathways and functionalities of non-canonical organelles of the parasites involved in redox metabolism (glycosomes for example);
• the development and/or mechanistic proposals of pro- or anti-oxidant drugs.
Keywords: protozoa, invertebrate host, vertebrate host, protozoa-host cell interactions, oxidative stress, ROS
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
