About this Research Topic
Food-borne parasites are disease-causing organisms that can be transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water. Food-borne parasites that are widespread globally or regionally include coccidian protozoa like Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium , the flagellated protozoon Giardia, roundworms (nematodes) like Trichinella and Anisakis, flukes (trematodes) like Fasciola, Opisthorchis, Clonorchis, and tapeworms (cestodes) like Echinococcus and Taenia. They are also responsible for a significant proportion of food-borne diseases in the world. One of the main ways food-borne parasites interact with the human immune system is by activating both innate and acquired immune responses. These responses include activating various immune cells, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, and T-cells, and antibody production. The aim of these responses is to eliminate the parasites and recruit other immune cells to the infection site.
One of the major challenges in food-borne parasite immunology is that many parasites have evolved high-level mechanisms, ranging from antigenic variation to immunosuppression, to evade and manipulate the immune system. Therefore, it is important to fully understand how host immune system recognizes and responds to invading parasites, and how parasites evade or manipulate the host immune system to establish infection. At this stage, ways to improve host immune responses to parasites, develop vaccines that can prepare to recognize and eradicate specific parasites, and identify new targets for anti-parasite drugs all depend on a clear understanding of immunopathology. Overall, understanding the immunopathology of food-borne parasites is critical for developing effective strategies to prevent and treat food-borne diseases caused by these organisms.
This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Review and Mini-Review, Classification, Technology and Code, Study Protocol, Perspective, Case Report, Conceptual Analysis, Brief Research Report, Data Report. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Host immune responses against food-borne parasite infection
• Interactions between host immune cells and food-borne parasite (in vitro and/or in vivo)
• Identification of parasitic effectors regulating host immunity
• Novel approaches for evaluation of host- food-borne parasite interaction
• Vaccinology and drug target identification
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
One of the major challenges in food-borne parasite immunology is that many parasites have evolved high-level mechanisms, ranging from antigenic variation to immunosuppression, to evade and manipulate the immune system. Therefore, it is important to fully understand how host immune system recognizes and responds to invading parasites, and how parasites evade or manipulate the host immune system to establish infection. At this stage, ways to improve host immune responses to parasites, develop vaccines that can prepare to recognize and eradicate specific parasites, and identify new targets for anti-parasite drugs all depend on a clear understanding of immunopathology. Overall, understanding the immunopathology of food-borne parasites is critical for developing effective strategies to prevent and treat food-borne diseases caused by these organisms.
This Research Topic accepts Original Research, Review and Mini-Review, Classification, Technology and Code, Study Protocol, Perspective, Case Report, Conceptual Analysis, Brief Research Report, Data Report. We welcome manuscripts focusing on, but not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Host immune responses against food-borne parasite infection
• Interactions between host immune cells and food-borne parasite (in vitro and/or in vivo)
• Identification of parasitic effectors regulating host immunity
• Novel approaches for evaluation of host- food-borne parasite interaction
• Vaccinology and drug target identification
The Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords: Food-Borne Parasites; Immunity; Vaccine; Immune cells; Host-parasite interaction; Drug target identification
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