Communication between parasites and their hosts is a central determinant of infection outcome, shaping parasite survival, tissue tropism, immune modulation, and disease progression. Parasitic organisms have evolved sophisticated strategies to sense, manipulate, and reprogram host cellular pathways through direct contact, secreted molecules, and vesicle-mediated signaling. In turn, host cells respond through complex immune and metabolic networks that influence parasite persistence or clearance. Understanding this dynamic, bidirectional communication is essential for elucidating the mechanisms underlying acute and chronic parasitic infections. Recent advances in molecular biology, imaging, and systems-level approaches have revealed that host–pathogen communication extends far beyond classical receptor–ligand interactions. Parasite-derived extracellular vesicles, secretomes, non-coding RNAs, lipids, and glycoconjugates have emerged as key mediators of intercellular communication, capable of modulating immune responses, altering tissue microenvironments, and promoting long-term persistence.
The goal of this Research Topic is to address how communication between parasites and host cells shapes infection dynamics, immune responses, and disease outcomes. Despite growing evidence that parasite-derived signals actively modulate host pathways, many of the molecular mechanisms and functional consequences of this communication remain poorly understood. This Research Topic seeks to consolidate current knowledge while highlighting emerging concepts, technologies, and experimental models that advance our understanding of host–pathogen dialogue.
This Research Topic welcomes contributions addressing molecular and cellular mechanisms of host–pathogen communication in parasitic infections. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- extracellular vesicles and secreted factors in parasite–host signaling;
- immune modulation and immune evasion strategies;
- tissue tropism and niche establishment;
- mechanisms of parasite persistence and chronic infection;
- innovative experimental models to study host–parasite interactions.
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Brief Research Report
Case Report
Classification
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Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
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Article types
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
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.
