Nutrient acquisition by intracellular parasitic protists

Abstract

Parasitic protists belonging to the Apicomplexa and Trypanosomatidae are the cause of important diseases and life-long chronic infections in humans. Several of these parasites replicate within intracellular niches in their mammalian host, including specialized vacuoles, as well as endo-lysosomal compartments or the cytosol of infected cells. These parasites are highly dependent on nutrient salvage pathways in order to satisfy their complex nutrient requirements as well as to maintain different growth and metabolic states. In this review, we provide an overview of common as well as species-specific strategies used by different intracellular parasites to acquire nutrients from their host, emphasizing the link between nutrient salvage and different growth strategies used by these parasites. Show more