About this Research Topic
Trypanosomatids are members of an early diverging eukaryotic unicellular parasitic family that infects vertebrates and invertebrates worldwide. The increasing knowledge on their taxonomy and phylogeny has on the one hand, increased the awareness of their diversity, host range and specificity but on the other hand, it also showed how much is still unknown. Ecological studies have demonstrated the complexity of the sylvatic transmission cycles and how transmission of T. cruzi to humans may assume distinct epidemiological features. Among the several gaps in trypanosomatids ecology knowledge, it's important to highlight, if and how trypanosomatids could influence biological and reproductive parameters of their insect vectors as well as if and how mixed infections may influence it’s outcome in their vertebrate hosts. Other unsolved questions include taxonomy. In fact, Linnaeus' binomial nomenclature does not include cryptic species and variants of most representatives of the family.
This Research Topic aims to address the different ecological features involved in trypanosomatids maintenance and transmission: how infection may be influenced by single and/or mixed infections, host and vector species, and by the landscape of their occurrence. Manuscripts that potentially add oddities and novelties in the “state-of-art” of Trypanosomatidae are especially welcomed. We are highly interested in the following topics: Trypanosomatids of vertebrates and invertebrates 1): phylogeny, genetic diversity; ecology 2) environment where transmission occurs by environmental remote sensing and niche modeling 3) ecology: impact of single and mixed infections, specific and casual interactions of monoxenic trypanosomatids with hosts, as well as distribution of trypanosomatids species and genotypes.
• Ecology of transmission of Trypanosomatids.
• Phylogeny and genetic diversity of Trypanosomatids.
• Competence and behaviour of infected insect vectors.
• Trypanosomatid species synergy, through analysis of the impact of single and mixed infections of vertebrate and invertebrate models.
• Specific and casual interactions of putative monoxenic parasites with vertebrate hosts.
• Spatial Syntax of Trypanosomatids: environmental modeling.
• Geographical distribution of trypanosome species and genotypes,
• What is being done to sequence more genetic markers and eventually the complete genome.
This Research Topic aims to address the different ecological features involved in trypanosomatids maintenance and transmission: how infection may be influenced by single and/or mixed infections, host and vector species, and by the landscape of their occurrence. Manuscripts that potentially add oddities and novelties in the “state-of-art” of Trypanosomatidae are especially welcomed. We are highly interested in the following topics: Trypanosomatids of vertebrates and invertebrates 1): phylogeny, genetic diversity; ecology 2) environment where transmission occurs by environmental remote sensing and niche modeling 3) ecology: impact of single and mixed infections, specific and casual interactions of monoxenic trypanosomatids with hosts, as well as distribution of trypanosomatids species and genotypes.
• Ecology of transmission of Trypanosomatids.
• Phylogeny and genetic diversity of Trypanosomatids.
• Competence and behaviour of infected insect vectors.
• Trypanosomatid species synergy, through analysis of the impact of single and mixed infections of vertebrate and invertebrate models.
• Specific and casual interactions of putative monoxenic parasites with vertebrate hosts.
• Spatial Syntax of Trypanosomatids: environmental modeling.
• Geographical distribution of trypanosome species and genotypes,
• What is being done to sequence more genetic markers and eventually the complete genome.
Keywords: Domestic and wild mammal trypanosomatids, their diversity, their ecology, remote sensing, niche modeling, environment
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.
