Protozoan parasites virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms in the human host

Protozoan parasites are the causative agents of a myriad of diseases with great impact on public health, especially in developing countries (e.g., Chagas’ disease, leishmaniases, sleeping sickness, malaria, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis). Through evolution, these pathogens have developed mechanisms to colonize and establish the infection, involving, cell to cell interaction, host immune system evasion and depending on the pathogen, host cell invasion. Accordingly, the actions performed by these parasites may lead to the development of severe symptoms and clinical manifestations that in many cases leads to death. Despite their worldwide clinical importance, the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in virulence and host parasite interaction are not completely understood and the research on this topic is urgent for the development and improvement of therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.

This Research Topic aims to discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms employed by pathogenic protozoans to establish and maintain the infection in the human host.

The scope of this Research Topic include , but are not limited to, the following research areas:

1. Host immune evasion

2. Host immunological modulation

3. Mechanisms of host infection (adhesion, invasion and survival within the host)

4. Mechanisms of parasite interference with host metabolic pathways

5. Genomic and evolutionary variations that contribute to parasite virulence or pathogenesis.

Keywords: Protozoan parasites, virulence proteins, host-parasite interaction, signaling pathways, immune system evasion, immunomodulatory mechanisms, host cell invasion

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.