Current Insights into Host–Parasite Interactions

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Parasitology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2024 | Viewed by 1991

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Interests: parasites; microbiome; hosts; gastropods; nematodes; biocontrol

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasitism is the most common behavioural strategy on Earth and the ancient co-evolutionary arms race between host and parasite (or pathogen) is responsible for the evolution of the host immune system, as well as the vast arsenal of weapons pathogens use to infect hosts. This interaction warrants further attention as bacteria, nematodes, trematodes (to name a few) severely affect human health, agriculture, and biodiversity. In this wide-ranging Special Issue, we aim to gain insights into the interactions between a broad range of hosts and their parasites/pathogens. Submissions are encouraged from researchers who study behavioural responses of hosts to parasites, host immunity, molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, microbiome changes in hosts (or parasites), genomic/genetic studies examining host or parasite responses, bacterial symbiosis, or diversity and population genetic studies. Studies on parasites/pathogens of invertebrates are particularly welcome, as well as those of mammals. 

Dr. Robbie G. Rae
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • helminths
  • pathogenic fungi
  • bacteria
  • microbiome
  • neglected tropical diseases
  • insect pathogens
  • bacterial symbiosis
  • host–parasite interactions
  • genomics of parasites
  • parasite genetic diversity

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 7801 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Cultivation for Glugea plecoglossi (Microsporidia) Isolated from Ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis)
by Guizong Xu, Zengyi Zhang, Qianjin Zhou, Mingyan Song, Guanjun Yang, Jinwei Kang, Zhongjie Xu, Fangjie Chen and Jiong Chen
Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12030522 - 05 Mar 2024
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Abstract
Glugea plecoglossi is an obligate intracellular microsporidium, which poses a significant threat to ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis). In vitro cultivation models are invaluable tools for investigating intracellular microorganisms, including G. plecoglossil. In this study, we attempted to in vitro cultivate G. [...] Read more.
Glugea plecoglossi is an obligate intracellular microsporidium, which poses a significant threat to ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis). In vitro cultivation models are invaluable tools for investigating intracellular microorganisms, including G. plecoglossil. In this study, we attempted to in vitro cultivate G. plecoglossi using primary cultures derived from ayu monocytes/macrophages (MO/MΦ), a murine-derived macrophage cell line RAW264.7, and the epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cell line. The results demonstrated that MO/MΦ infected with spores exhibited a pronounced immune response which was presented by rapidly high expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as PaIL-1β, PaTNF-α, PaIL-10, and PaTGF-β, and detached within 96 h post-infection (hpi). Infected RAW264.7 cells remained capable of stable passage yet exhibited cellular deformation with a decrease in intracellular spores occurring around 8 days post-infection (dpi). In contrast, EPC cells promised a substantial parasite population, and the cytokine expression levels returned to normal by 8 dpi. In addition, G. plecoglossi spores recovered from EPC cells could infect young ayu, suggesting that EPC cells might be used as an in vitro cultivation system for G. plecoglossi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Insights into Host–Parasite Interactions)
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13 pages, 2232 KiB  
Article
A Microcosm Experiment Reveals the Temperature-Sensitive Release of Mucochytrium quahogii (=QPX) from Hard Clams and Pallial Fluid as a Stable QPX Reservoir
by Sabrina Geraci-Yee, Jackie L. Collier and Bassem Allam
Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 241; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12020241 - 24 Jan 2024
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Abstract
Mucochytrium quahogii, also known as QPX or Quahog Parasite Unknown, is the causative agent of QPX disease in the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). Host–pathogen–environment interactions between M. quahogii, the hard clam, and temperature were explored in a microcosm experiment. [...] Read more.
Mucochytrium quahogii, also known as QPX or Quahog Parasite Unknown, is the causative agent of QPX disease in the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria). Host–pathogen–environment interactions between M. quahogii, the hard clam, and temperature were explored in a microcosm experiment. Hard clams were housed in individual tanks with sterile seawater under two temperature regimes: low (13 °C) temperature, which is thought to be optimal for QPX disease development, and high (20 °C) temperature, which has been shown to promote “healing” of QPX-infected clams. Hard clam tissue, pallial fluid, seawater, and shell biofilms were collected and assayed for M. quahogii. The release of M. quahogii from naturally infected live hard clams into seawater was detected only in the low temperature treatment, suggesting that temperature influences the release of potentially infectious cells. M. quahogii was commonly found in hard clam pallial fluid, even after 9 weeks in the lab, suggesting pallial fluid is a stable reservoir of M. quahogii within its primary host and that M. quahogii is not a transient component of the hard clam microbiota. Overall, results support a host-specific relationship and that M. quahogii is a commensal member of the hard clam microbiota, supporting its classification as an opportunistic pathogen. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Insights into Host–Parasite Interactions)
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Review

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32 pages, 2986 KiB  
Review
Neutrophils versus Protozoan Parasites: Plasmodium, Trichomonas, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, and Entameoba
by Eileen Uribe-Querol and Carlos Rosales
Microorganisms 2024, 12(4), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12040827 - 19 Apr 2024
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Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient cells that eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but their role in dealing with protozoan parasitic infections remains controversial. At [...] Read more.
Neutrophils are the most abundant polymorphonuclear granular leukocytes in human blood and are an essential part of the innate immune system. Neutrophils are efficient cells that eliminate pathogenic bacteria and fungi, but their role in dealing with protozoan parasitic infections remains controversial. At sites of protozoan parasite infections, a large number of infiltrating neutrophils is observed, suggesting that neutrophils are important cells for controlling the infection. Yet, in most cases, there is also a strong inflammatory response that can provoke tissue damage. Diseases like malaria, trichomoniasis, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, and amoebiasis affect millions of people globally. In this review, we summarize these protozoan diseases and describe the novel view on how neutrophils are involved in protection from these parasites. Also, we present recent evidence that neutrophils play a double role in these infections participating both in control of the parasite and in the pathogenesis of the disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Insights into Host–Parasite Interactions)
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