About this Research Topic

Background

Microsporidia describes a diverse group of obligate intracellular, spore-forming parasitic fungi that infect animal hosts. Mostly infecting insects, they can also infect fish, crustaceans and even humans. Fisheries have seen substantial damage from Microsporidia infections, which are also a driving factor of honey bee losses, threatening food security and agricultural economy. In humans, these opportunistic parasites can cause microsporidiosis which is especially a risk to immuno-compromised patients.

This Research Topic aims to further understanding of the diverse group of microsporidian parasites, including their evolutionary origins, host manipulation as well as allele selection during host-parasite co-evolution. By increasing our understanding of these parasites, this will have potential to advance treatment of infections and control of such parasites. Subjects of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Characterization, comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis of Microsporidian parasite species

• Genome sequencing and technological advances providing further insights into evolution and function of microsporidian parasites

• Identification of genes essential for the parasite proliferation and host manipulation

• Co-evolution with hosts and how Microsporidia adapt to multiple hosts

This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Review, Mini-Review, Opinion and Perspective articles.

Keywords: microsporidia, parasitic, fungal parasite, evolution, genomics

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.

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