About this Research Topic
Human-associated gut microbial communities are composed not only of bacteria but also of protozoa, whose role in the gut ecosystem is only recently starting to be uncovered. Trans-kingdom interactions have undoubtedly shaped human gut homeostasis due to hundreds of millions of years of co-evolution. For example, bacterial and eukaryotic microorganisms residing in the human gut can affect each other’s pathogenicity. However, most studies so far have focused on well-known pathogenic protozoa such as Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba histolytica. In parallel, we know very little about the ecological interactions between gut bacteria and intestinal protozoa that are either non-pathogenic or whose pathogenicity is unknown or controversial, some of which might even be beneficial.
For this Research Topic, we welcome articles (preferably hypothesis-driven Original Research) focusing particularly on the following themes:
• Interaction between intestinal protozoa and the intestinal microbiota, concerning both potentially beneficial protozoa: Blastocystis spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba spp. (other than E. histolytica) and pathogenic protozoa: Cryptosporidium spp., E. histolytica, Giardia;
• Impact of intestinal protozoa on the host immune system;
• Methodology for studying (i) eukaryotic biodiversity in the gut ecosystem and (ii) the interaction between protozoa and bacteria (new in vitro models);
• Role intestinal protozoa can play in FMT (fecal transplantation).
Keywords: intestinal protozoa, fecal transplantation, gut homeostasis, eukaryotic parasites
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
