About this Research Topic

Background

Apicomplexa consist of numerous genera of pathogenic protozoa that cause diseases in humans and in a variety of economically important animal species. The apicomplexan parasites have complex life cycles that are characterized by three distinct processes: sporogony, merogony and gametogony. They are characterized by possession of the apical complex, which contains rhoptries, micronemes, polar rings, and conoid, that participate in the invasion of the host cell. Apicomplexa includes several important species from the genera Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Neospora, Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, Theileria and Babesia. Annotation and analysis of the genomes from various species within the group have revealed surprising differences in the biology of the apicomplexa, particularly in some key metabolic pathways.

Significant global healthcare burden and economic losses were represented by the elevating percentages of infections of intracellular apicomplexan parasites from the genera Plasmodium, Babesia, Toxoplasma, Neospora, Eimeria and Cryptosporidium (the causative agents of malaria, babesiosis, toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis, respectively). Despite their importance, few vaccines and treatments are available; a situation that is likely to become worse with the emergence of new resistant strains of parasites. Therefore, in order to perform the foundation for control programs, many trails concerned with host-parasite interaction, vaccine development, discovery of drug targets, genome sequences, genes expression, characterization and proteomic analysis have emerged. The main challenge is how to exploit these data to derive insights into parasite virulence, its ability to drive the host-response and identify specific genes, proteins and molecules that represent the best amenable targets. In the current topic, we will aim to shed light into the recent distribution and epidemiology, to focus on important apicomplexan target molecules and to discuss biological insights that have emerged as a consequence of their analysis. Of particular interest are potential anti-parasitic vaccines and drug targets, as well as studies on host/parasite metabolisms and host immune response/invasion/survival that potentially would open up new opportunities to discover novel therapeutic approaches.

The current topic scope includes:
- The biology of apicomplexan parasites and host-parasite relationships (host and parasite genomics, immunology and biochemistry and vaccine/drug targets)
- Mechanisms of pathogenicity, diseases prevention, pathology, and treatment
- Contributions in basic or applied research in disciplines such as disease ecology, diagnostics, interventions and control, public health, parasite and vector taxonomy and epidemiology of these parasitic diseases in the context of medical, veterinary and biological sciences
- Studies dealing with apicomplexa control by means of natural products, both in vivo and in vitro are accepted after analyzing the constituents and active ingredients of the utilized natural product

Keywords: Control, Vaccines, Interactions, Apicomplexa, Epidemiology

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