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Protozoan parasites and cell death

Edited by Hilary Hurd

Collection published: 9 November 2010

Last updated: 25 March 2011

A key component of the life history of metazoans is the ability of their cells to undergo cell death programmes characterised by a sequence of morphological and biochemical changes. Parasites and pathogens can induce or inhibit these programmes in ways that may determine the outcome of disease. Evidence that programmed cell death also occurs in unicellular organisms, including parasitic protozoans, is rapidly growing. Although they display the same morphological markers as metazoans, molecular mechanisms and functions clearly differ. It is thus timely to consider our current understanding of life or death decisions in both protozoans and the host cells they inhabit. Reviews have been compiled by members of the COST Action BM0802, Life or Death of Protozoan Parasites http://www.lodopp.net/.

This thematic series is supported by COST http://www.cost.eu.

		Review Evolution of apoptosis-like programmed cell death in unicellular protozoan parasites Szymon Kaczanowski, Mohammed Sajid, Sarah E Reece Parasites & Vectors 2011, 4:44 (25 March 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary We use bioinformatics approaches to investigate evolutionary relationships of the molecular machinery involved in apoptosis-like cell death in protozoan parasites. Image: Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Apoptosis Induction Factor has been lost during the evolution of trypanosomatids.
		Review Are protozoan metacaspases potential parasite killers? Benoît Meslin, Habib Zalila, Nicolas Fasel, Stephane Picot, Anne-Lise Bienvenu Parasites & Vectors 2011, 4:26 (28 February 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Mechanisms concerning life or death decisions in protozoan parasites are still imperfectly understood. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge of protozoan parasite metacaspases within a drug targeting perspective. Image: Caspase Recruitment Domain D modelling of Plasmodium falciparum metacaspase (PfMCA1).
		Review Impact of protozoan cell death on parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis Carsten GK Lüder, Jenny Campos-Salinas, Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Ger van Zandbergen Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:116 (2 December 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Protozoan parasites can undergo forms of programmed cell death. Here we address the question how apoptosis and autophagy in kinetoplastids and apicomplexans may affect the parasite-host interaction in mammalian hosts and insect vectors. Image: DNA strand breaks in Toxoplasma.
		Review Targeting essential pathways in trypanosomatids gives insights into protozoan mechanisms of cell death Despina Smirlis, Michael Duszenko, Antonio Ruiz, Effie Scoulica, Patrick Bastien, Nicolas Fasel, Ketty Soteriadou Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:107 (17 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary This review describes the components of the apoptotic execution machinery that are slowly coming into light by targeting essential processes, and the events known to drive trypanosomatid parasites to apoptosis.Image: Representation of the major pathways leading to apoptosis in trypanosomatids.
		Review Apoptosis induced by parasitic diseases Anne-Lise Bienvenu, Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Stephane Picot Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:106 (17 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Deciphering the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases may help to open new doors for increasing life expectancy. Our paper reviews human cell apoptosis during parasitic diseases and discusses how the countering of host apoptosis could be considered as a target for new anti-parasitic drugs. Image: Avoid apoptosis, enjoy life!
		Review Investigating the evolution of apoptosis in malaria parasites: the importance of ecology Laura C Pollitt, Nick Colegrave, Shahid M Khan, Mohammed Sajid, Sarah E Reece Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:105 (16 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary This review highlights the ecological and evolutionary considerations when studying parasite apoptosis and calls for collaboration between different fields to identify and develop appropriate markers and to resolve debates on terminology. Image: Ookinete stage malaria parasite.
		Review Apoptotic markers in protozoan parasites Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz, Juan Alzate, Ewan MacLeod, Carsten Günter Lüder, Nicolas Fasel, Hilary Hurd Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:104 (9 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| 1 comment \| Editor’s summary This review discusses the markers most frequently used to analyze cell death in protozoan parasites. It also summarizes our present knowledge of caspase-like and nuclease activities in these protists and their possible role as regulators/executors of cell death.Image: Phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer surface of a Plasmodium berghei developing ookinete.

		Review Evolution of apoptosis-like programmed cell death in unicellular protozoan parasites Szymon Kaczanowski, Mohammed Sajid, Sarah E Reece Parasites & Vectors 2011, 4:44 (25 March 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary We use bioinformatics approaches to investigate evolutionary relationships of the molecular machinery involved in apoptosis-like cell death in protozoan parasites. Image: Phylogenetic analysis indicates that Apoptosis Induction Factor has been lost during the evolution of trypanosomatids.
		Review Are protozoan metacaspases potential parasite killers? Benoît Meslin, Habib Zalila, Nicolas Fasel, Stephane Picot, Anne-Lise Bienvenu Parasites & Vectors 2011, 4:26 (28 February 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Mechanisms concerning life or death decisions in protozoan parasites are still imperfectly understood. The aim of this paper is to review current knowledge of protozoan parasite metacaspases within a drug targeting perspective. Image: Caspase Recruitment Domain D modelling of Plasmodium falciparum metacaspase (PfMCA1).
		Review Impact of protozoan cell death on parasite-host interactions and pathogenesis Carsten GK Lüder, Jenny Campos-Salinas, Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Ger van Zandbergen Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:116 (2 December 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Protozoan parasites can undergo forms of programmed cell death. Here we address the question how apoptosis and autophagy in kinetoplastids and apicomplexans may affect the parasite-host interaction in mammalian hosts and insect vectors. Image: DNA strand breaks in Toxoplasma.
		Review Targeting essential pathways in trypanosomatids gives insights into protozoan mechanisms of cell death Despina Smirlis, Michael Duszenko, Antonio Ruiz, Effie Scoulica, Patrick Bastien, Nicolas Fasel, Ketty Soteriadou Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:107 (17 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary This review describes the components of the apoptotic execution machinery that are slowly coming into light by targeting essential processes, and the events known to drive trypanosomatid parasites to apoptosis.Image: Representation of the major pathways leading to apoptosis in trypanosomatids.
		Review Apoptosis induced by parasitic diseases Anne-Lise Bienvenu, Elena Gonzalez-Rey, Stephane Picot Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:106 (17 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Deciphering the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of parasitic diseases may help to open new doors for increasing life expectancy. Our paper reviews human cell apoptosis during parasitic diseases and discusses how the countering of host apoptosis could be considered as a target for new anti-parasitic drugs. Image: Avoid apoptosis, enjoy life!
		Review Investigating the evolution of apoptosis in malaria parasites: the importance of ecology Laura C Pollitt, Nick Colegrave, Shahid M Khan, Mohammed Sajid, Sarah E Reece Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:105 (16 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary This review highlights the ecological and evolutionary considerations when studying parasite apoptosis and calls for collaboration between different fields to identify and develop appropriate markers and to resolve debates on terminology. Image: Ookinete stage malaria parasite.
		Review Apoptotic markers in protozoan parasites Antonio Jiménez-Ruiz, Juan Alzate, Ewan MacLeod, Carsten Günter Lüder, Nicolas Fasel, Hilary Hurd Parasites & Vectors 2010, 3:104 (9 November 2010) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| 1 comment \| Editor’s summary This review discusses the markers most frequently used to analyze cell death in protozoan parasites. It also summarizes our present knowledge of caspase-like and nuclease activities in these protists and their possible role as regulators/executors of cell death.Image: Phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer surface of a Plasmodium berghei developing ookinete.