Deciphering Host–Parasite Dynamics: Exploring Epigenetic, Transcriptional, and Molecular Mechanisms in Intestinal Parasitic Infections

Dear Colleagues,

The human gut maintains a delicate homeostatic balance with a diverse microbiota comprising trillions of commensal microorganisms. However, specialized enteric parasites can disrupt this equilibrium by invading host tissues and reshaping cellular functions. A wide range of intestinal parasites, including Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba, and other protozoan and helminth species, have evolved sophisticated strategies to colonize the gut and persist within the host. These infections remain a major global health burden, particularly among children in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to malnutrition, impaired development, and chronic intestinal disorders.

A growing body of evidence from diverse parasitic systems, including apicomplexans such as Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, and Plasmodium, as well as other intestinal pathogens, demonstrates that parasites actively modulate host gene expression by reprogramming chromatin architecture, epigenetic landscapes, and other regulatory mechanisms. These adaptations enable immune evasion, long-term persistence, and host adaptation. However, for many intestinal parasites, the molecular details of these regulatory processes remain poorly understood.

This Special Issue aims to bring together studies exploring how intestinal parasites influence host cellular responses at the epigenetic, transcriptional, and chromatin levels, while also considering other mechanisms such as metabolic reprogramming and immune modulation. In fact, we seek to foster integrative insights across parasite species and host systems, bridging molecular parasitology with systems biology and epigenomics.

Focus Areas for Submission

We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that utilize diverse mechanistic approaches to investigate the following themes:

1. The Signal-to-Nucleus Axis: studies identifying the molecular bridges between the parasite and the host genome are welcome. This includes, for instance, the identification of secreted effectors that physically translocate to the host nucleus to alter chromatin architecture, as well as investigations into how parasite-induced signaling cascades trigger histone modifications or DNA methylation.
2. Systems-Level Regulatory Landscapes: contributions could integrate multi-omics datasets (e.g., ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq, RNA-seq) to construct comprehensive maps of host gene regulatory networks during infection. Emphasis on identifying key epigenetic regulators and host pathways could serve as therapeutic targets to reverse parasite-induced immune suppression.
3. The Tissue-Level Microenvironment Interface: studies examining how parasite infection reshapes the intestinal microenvironment, focusing on how infected epithelial cells influence neighboring cells through epigenetic signaling and other mechanisms, leading to immune modulation, tolerance, or chronic inflammation at the tissue level, are encouraged.
4. Signaling pathways and Immune Modulation: we also invite research exploring how parasites alter host signaling pathways and immune responses beyond epigenetic changes. This includes the impact of metabolic reprogramming on host–pathogen interactions and the role of immune cells in modulating parasite survival and persistence.

By focusing on infection-driven regulation of host cellular processes across a diversity of intestinal parasites, this Special Issue aims to advance our understanding of the molecular strategies used to establish and maintain infection. Elucidating these conserved and species-specific mechanisms will be critical for identifying novel therapeutic targets and mitigating the long-term consequences of parasitic diseases.

Dr. Manasi Sawant
Dr. Gabriela Certad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• intestinal parasites
• host–parasite interactions
• epigenetics
• gene regulation
• immune response