Interspecific Interactions between Protozoan Parasites and their Hosts and Neighbors

Dear Colleagues,

Protozoan parasites include pathogens of medical and veterinary importance that, although largely neglected, lead to important human and animal health problems. Together, parasites such as Giardia, Entamoeba, Trichomonas, Toxoplasma, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and Leishmania affect billions of people worldwide, leading to thousands of deaths annually. In addition, they can infect domestic animals, including companion animals and livestock, and lead to various diseases and reproductive complications, causing psychological trauma to pet families and great economic losses to the world livestock market.

To be successful in infecting their hosts, these parasites must reach the target tissue and deal with natural barriers such as the host's immune cells and various other microorganisms they encounter during their journey. Interactions with such agents can be beneficial or harmful for the protozoan itself, and the balance between parasite virulence, host resistance and the influence of the local microbiota will determine the fate of the infection and the outcome of the disease.

The host–parasite–microbiota interactions are complex; if, on the one hand, protozoan infections affect the composition of the mucosal microbiota, on the other hand, specific components of the microbiota can affect the parasitic infection and the progression of the diseases caused by them. Therefore, understanding the biology, ultrastructure and dynamics of these host–parasite, parasite–microbiota and host–parasite–microbiota relationships can favor the development of therapeutic strategies to combat these life-threatening pathogenic protozoa.

This Special Issue will cover various aspects of the host–parasite–microbiota interplay under three main topics: (1) the relationship between protozoan parasites and host cells (e.g., cellular and molecular biology of protozoan interactions with target tissues/cells, interactions with the host immune system, and the life cycle during host colonization); (2) parasitic protozoa and their relationship with the microbiological world (fungi, viruses, bacteria and other protozoa); and (3) the relationship between protozoan parasites and the niche where they live within the host (e.g., gut or vaginal microbiota).

Dr. Rafael Mariante Meyer
Dr. Victor Do Valle Pereira Midlej
Guest Editors

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