title: Alice in microbes' land: adaptations and counter-adaptations of vector-borne parasitic protozoa and their hosts.
abstract: In the present review, we aim to provide a general introduction to different facets of the arms race between pathogens and their hosts/environment, emphasizing its evolutionary aspects. We focus on vector-borne parasitic protozoa, which have to adapt to both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts. Using Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Plasmodium as main models, we review successively (i) the adaptations and counter-adaptations of parasites and their invertebrate host, (ii) the adaptations and counter-adaptations of parasites and their vertebrate host and (iii) the impact of human interventions (chemotherapy, vaccination, vector control and environmental changes) on these adaptations. We conclude by discussing the practical impact this knowledge can have on translational research and public health.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Health, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caljon
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Muylder
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lies
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Durnez
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Wim
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jennes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Fidock Lab, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Manu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vanaerschot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nationalestraat 155, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium University of Antwerp, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Health, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium jcdujardin@itg.be.
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Dujardin
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D057131:Immune Evasion / Q000276:immunology*; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014345:Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*
keywords: (co-)evolution; drug resistance; escape; insect vector; parasites