About this Research Topic
Babesia spp. is a family of tick-borne protozoan parasites that infect the red blood cells of human and animals such as cattle, dogs, goats, sheep, pigs, cats and others, causing babesiosis. Over the past few decades, the infection cases have dramatically increased in frequency and geographical range. Babesiosis in humans can cause fever, anaemia, fatigue, possible nausea, severe myalgias, headaches, as well as the life-threatening condition of renal failure called acute respiratory distress syndrome in acute cases. To date, limited treatment options exist for Babesia infections.
Atovaquone and azithromycin are currently commonly used to treat babesiosis, in addition to clindamycin and quinine. However, drug-resistant Babesia spp. strains have recently emerged. Although, the genomes of some Babesia spp. have already revealed the functions of some genes in Babesia, the full mechanisms of Babesia-vector “talk” and Babesia-host interactions are still unclear and in need of further exploring. These gaps in our knowledge are possibly due to the lack of in vitro culture systems which enable effective parasite manipulation. Currently, efficient vaccines or novel drugs against parasites are still far from being available.
This Research Topic therefore seeks manuscripts that investigate the biological mechanisms of Babesia-tick or Babesia-host interactions, the functions of genes in Babesia, the drugs or vaccines targeting Babesia or its ticks vectors, and new techniques in genome manipulation such as CRISPR and transfection. We welcome original research, reviews, brief reports, and mini reviews which address, but are not limited to the following topics:
1. Genome editing (gene knockout, knockdown, over expression) to study gene functions in Babesia parasites;
2. Screening of new drugs or exploration of new vaccine candidates against Babesia or ticks;
3. Research involving Babesia-tick or Babesia-host interactions;
4. Omics analysis in Babesia;
5. Biomarkers discoveries for better diagnosis of babesiosis disease;
6. Biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of babesiosis;
7. New methods to identify or design new drugs against babesiosis.
Atovaquone and azithromycin are currently commonly used to treat babesiosis, in addition to clindamycin and quinine. However, drug-resistant Babesia spp. strains have recently emerged. Although, the genomes of some Babesia spp. have already revealed the functions of some genes in Babesia, the full mechanisms of Babesia-vector “talk” and Babesia-host interactions are still unclear and in need of further exploring. These gaps in our knowledge are possibly due to the lack of in vitro culture systems which enable effective parasite manipulation. Currently, efficient vaccines or novel drugs against parasites are still far from being available.
This Research Topic therefore seeks manuscripts that investigate the biological mechanisms of Babesia-tick or Babesia-host interactions, the functions of genes in Babesia, the drugs or vaccines targeting Babesia or its ticks vectors, and new techniques in genome manipulation such as CRISPR and transfection. We welcome original research, reviews, brief reports, and mini reviews which address, but are not limited to the following topics:
1. Genome editing (gene knockout, knockdown, over expression) to study gene functions in Babesia parasites;
2. Screening of new drugs or exploration of new vaccine candidates against Babesia or ticks;
3. Research involving Babesia-tick or Babesia-host interactions;
4. Omics analysis in Babesia;
5. Biomarkers discoveries for better diagnosis of babesiosis disease;
6. Biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of babesiosis;
7. New methods to identify or design new drugs against babesiosis.
Keywords: Babesia, Interaction, Omics, Mechanism, Pathogenesis
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.
