Structures and Organelles in Pathogenic Protists, 2010 Microbiology Monographs Series, Vol. 17

Parasitic protozoa, including some which are agents of human and veterinary diseases, display special cytoplasmic structures and organelles. Metabolic pathways have been discovered in these organelles which open up new possibilities for drug targets. This work presents reviews dealing with cytoskeletal structures such as the mastigont system found in trichomonads, the sub-pellicular microtubules in trypanosomatids and the paraflagellar rod. Further chapters cover structures involved in the synthesis, secretion and uptake of molecules, including the flagellar pocket of trypanosomatids, the reservosome of Trypanosoma and the megasome found in Leishmania, the traffic of vesicles in Entamoeba histolytica, secretory organelles and the secretory events of intestinal parasites during encystation. Reviews on special organelles, such as the kinetoplast-mitochondrion complex, the apicoplast found in Apicomplexa, the glycosomes in Kinetoplastida and the acidocalcisomes found in several protozoa complete the volume.

The Mastigont System in Trichomonads.- Subpellicular Microtubules in Apicomplexa and Trypanosomatids.- Flagellum Structure and Function in Trypanosomes.- The Flagellar Pocket of Trypanosomatids: A Critical Feature for Cell Morphogenesis and Pathogenicity.- Reservosomes of Trypanosoma cruzi.- Megasomes in Leishmania.- Organelles and Trafficking in Entamoeba histolytica.- Secretory Organelles in Apicomplexa.- Secretory Events During Giardia Encystation.- The Remarkable Mitochondrion of Trypanosomes and Related Flagellates.- The Apicoplast: An Ancient Algal Endosymbiont of Apicomplexa.- The Glycosome of Trypanosomatids.- Calcium Homeostasis and Acidocalcisomes in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Presents recent results obtained using modern cell biology and molecular approaches, including genomics and proteomics.- A valuable source of information for scientists in basic research as well as in the development of new pharmaceutical drugs.- Written by renowned scientists, some of whom were directly involved in the discovery and characterization of the organelles described. Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras