Open AccessThe role of extracellular vesicles in P lasmodium and other protozoan parasites
Author(s) -
Mantel PierreYves,
Marti Matthias
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1111/cmi.12259
Subject(s) - biology , extracellular , biogenesis , extracellular vesicle , extracellular vesicles , microvesicles , secretion , microbiology and biotechnology , intracellular , immune system , protozoan parasite , protozoa , intracellular parasite , protozoan infection , immunology , parasite hosting , biochemistry , microrna , world wide web , computer science , gene
Summary Protozoan parasites and other microorganisms use various pathways to communicate within their own populations and to manipulate their outside environments, with the ultimate goal of balancing the rate of growth and transmission. In higher eukaryotes, including humans, circulating extracellular vesicles are increasingly recognized as key mediators of physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence suggests that protozoan parasites, including those responsible for major human diseases such as malaria and C hagas disease, use similar machinery. Indeed, intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites secrete extracellular vesicles to promote growth and induce transmission, to evade the host immune system, and to manipulate the microenvironment. In this review we will discuss the general pathways of extracellular vesicle biogenesis and their functions in protozoan infections.