AUTHOR=Dong George , Filho Alonso Lira , Olivier Martin 

TITLE=Modulation of Host-Pathogen Communication by Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) of the Protozoan Parasite Leishmania

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00100

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00100

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Leishmania</italic> genus protozoan parasites have developed various strategies to overcome host cell protective mechanisms favoring their survival and propagation. Recent findings in the field propose a new player in this infectious strategy, the <italic>Leishmania</italic> exosomes. Exosomes are eukaryotic extracellular vesicles essential to cell communication in various biological contexts. In fact, there have been an increasing number of reports over the last 10 years regarding the role of protozoan parasite exosomes, <italic>Leishmania</italic> exosomes included, in their capacity to favor infection and propagation within their hosts. In this review, we will discuss the latest findings regarding <italic>Leishmania</italic> exosome function during infectious conditions with a strong focus on <italic>Leishmania</italic>-host interaction from a mammalian perspective. We also compare the immunomodulatory properties of <italic>Leishmania</italic> exosomes to other parasite exosomes, demonstrating the conserved, important role that exosomes play during parasite infection.</p>