title: The Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Pathway: Role in Immune Evasion by Trypanosomatids.
abstract: Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi are the causative agents of leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, respectively, two neglected tropical diseases that affect about 25 million people worldwide. These parasites belong to the family Trypanosomatidae, and are both obligate intracellular parasites that manipulate host signaling pathways and the innate immune system to establish infection. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine and threonine protein kinases that are highly conserved in eukaryotes, and are involved in signal transduction pathways that modulate physiological and pathophysiological cell responses. This mini-review highlights existing knowledge concerning the mechanisms that Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi have evolved to target the host's MAPK signaling pathways and highjack the immune response, and, in this manner, promote parasite maintenance in the host.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soares-Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas GeraisMinas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bahia
keywords: Leishmania; MAP kinase; Trypanosoma cruzi; cellular signaling; immune evasion of parasites