Cyst and encystment in protozoan parasites: optimal targets for new life-cycle interrupting strategies?

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• 作者：Hugo  ; Aguilar-Dí ; az¹ ; Julio Cé ; sar  ; Carrero¹ ;   ; ^{carrero@servidor.unam.mx} ; Raú ; l  ; Argü ; ello-Garcí ; a² ; Juan Pedro  ; Laclette¹ ; Jorge  ; Morales-Montor¹
• 刊名：Trends in Parasitology
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：October 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：27
• 期：10
• 页码：450-458
• 全文大小：1018 K

文摘

Certain protozoan parasites use survival strategies to reside outside the host such as the formation of cysts. This dormant and resistant stage results from the complex process of encystment that involves diverse molecular and cellular modifications. The stimuli and changes associated with cyst biogenesis are a matter of ongoing studies in human and animal protozoan parasites such as amoeba and Giardia species because blocking every step in the encystment pathway should, in theory, interrupt their life cycles. The present review thoroughly examines this essential process in those protozoan parasites and discusses the possibility of using that information to develop new kinds of anti-parasite specific and life cycle-interrupting drugs, aimed at holding back the dissemination of these infections.