title: Immune responses against protozoan parasites: a focus on the emerging role of Nod-like receptors.
abstract: Nod-like receptors (NLRs) have gained attention in recent years because of the ability of some family members to assemble into a multimeric protein complex known as the inflammasome. The role of NLRs and the inflammasome in regulating innate immunity against bacterial pathogens has been well studied. However, recent studies show that NLRs and inflammasomes also play a role during infections caused by protozoan parasites, which pose a significant global health burden. Herein, we review the diseases caused by the most common protozoan parasites in the world and discuss the roles of NLRs and inflammasomes in host immunity against these parasites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA.
authors.forename: Prajwal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gurung
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN, 38105-2794, USA. thirumala-devi.kanneganti@stjude.org.
authors.forename: Thirumala-Devi
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Kanneganti
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000276:immunology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000276:immunology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D000070576:NLR Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000276:immunology; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000276:immunology; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D000070576:NLR Proteins
keywords: Inflammasome; NLR; NLRP3; NOD; Parasites; Protozoa