Investigating the tri-partite interactions between parasites, their vectors, and mammalian hosts has offered many insights that contribute to disease control, prevention, and treatment strategies. Their respective microbiomes are now also emerging as an additional but often-hidden factor influencing their fitness, vectorial capacity, and disease phenotypes. For example, infections with helminth parasites are now known to affect the host gut microbiome and metabolism in a parasite-specific manner. The study of symbionts and other components of the microbiome in vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks and their effects on pathogen-carrying capacities is being utilized to devise microbiome manipulation as a strategy for biocontrol and vaccine development. Unbiased characterization of the microbiomes of ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas, and chiggers is now revealing the full spectrum of potentially pathogenic microbes they can carry and transmit. Many disease vectors are expanding in their geographical and seasonal range due to climate change and urban development but the corresponding effects on their microbiomes are only beginning to be investigated.
A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involving parasites, hosts, and vectors and their microbiomes is essential for improving and safeguarding human and animal health. Rapid advances in technologies as well as conceptual frameworks are required to enable discoveries on the multi-faceted roles of microbiomes in this web of interactions.
To encourage and spotlight the latest research under this theme, this research topic welcomes original research, as well as review articles. The areas covered under this topic include but are not limited to:
1. Effects of parasite infections on host microbiomes.
2. Effect of pathogen infestation on microbiome of vectors.
3. Tissue-specific microbiomes and their dynamics
4. Microbiome manipulation strategies for vector biocontrol, disease prevention, and therapeutics development.
5. Microbiome plays a significant role in influencing the susceptibility to parasite infection.
6. Tools and technologies for capturing various components of microbiomes including symbionts, other bacteria, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes.
7. Characterization of parasites’ microbiome.
Keywords:
Microbiome, Parasites, Vectors, Hosts, Symbionts, Pathogens, Ectoparasites, Vector-borne Diseases
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.
Investigating the tri-partite interactions between parasites, their vectors, and mammalian hosts has offered many insights that contribute to disease control, prevention, and treatment strategies. Their respective microbiomes are now also emerging as an additional but often-hidden factor influencing their fitness, vectorial capacity, and disease phenotypes. For example, infections with helminth parasites are now known to affect the host gut microbiome and metabolism in a parasite-specific manner. The study of symbionts and other components of the microbiome in vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks and their effects on pathogen-carrying capacities is being utilized to devise microbiome manipulation as a strategy for biocontrol and vaccine development. Unbiased characterization of the microbiomes of ectoparasites such as ticks, fleas, and chiggers is now revealing the full spectrum of potentially pathogenic microbes they can carry and transmit. Many disease vectors are expanding in their geographical and seasonal range due to climate change and urban development but the corresponding effects on their microbiomes are only beginning to be investigated.
A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics involving parasites, hosts, and vectors and their microbiomes is essential for improving and safeguarding human and animal health. Rapid advances in technologies as well as conceptual frameworks are required to enable discoveries on the multi-faceted roles of microbiomes in this web of interactions.
To encourage and spotlight the latest research under this theme, this research topic welcomes original research, as well as review articles. The areas covered under this topic include but are not limited to:
1. Effects of parasite infections on host microbiomes.
2. Effect of pathogen infestation on microbiome of vectors.
3. Tissue-specific microbiomes and their dynamics
4. Microbiome manipulation strategies for vector biocontrol, disease prevention, and therapeutics development.
5. Microbiome plays a significant role in influencing the susceptibility to parasite infection.
6. Tools and technologies for capturing various components of microbiomes including symbionts, other bacteria, viruses, archaea, and eukaryotes.
7. Characterization of parasites’ microbiome.
Keywords:
Microbiome, Parasites, Vectors, Hosts, Symbionts, Pathogens, Ectoparasites, Vector-borne Diseases
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.