Living within: endosymbiosis in parasites of medical importance—profits, expenses, and implications for host–parasite interactions
- 1Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Endosymbiosis is a biological relationship, where one organism lives within the body of another. The concept of endosymbiosis was first introduced relevant to the origin and development of organelles in eukaryotes. Later, microorganisms were reported to be associated with different eukaryotes including arthropods, parasitic helminths, and protozoa; subsequently, their role in parasite biology and parasite–human host interactions has been minded. Within this context, filaria–Wolbachia, Leishmania–Leishmania RNA virus (LRV), and Trichomonas–Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV) are extensively studied models that demonstrate how endosymbionts can directly drive immunomodulation in human host and worsen the clinical outcome, whereas Acanthamoeba stands out as a reservoir of an array of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria, and a training hub for bacterial virulence evolution. Despite the progress achieved in understanding these models, the depth of characterization of endosymbionts across parasite taxa is markedly uneven. Disclosing the world of microorganisms living within parasites, especially with the advanced metagenomic analysis, constitutes an emerging field of research of immense scientific significance for parasitology, microbiology, and host–parasite interactions.
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BibTeX
@article{shafi2026living,
title = {{Living within: endosymbiosis in parasites of medical importance—profits, expenses, and implications for host–parasite interactions}},
author = {Iman R. Abdel Shafi and Safeya O. El Bassiouni and Magda S. A. Abdeltawab},
journal = {Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fcimb.2026.1956183},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1956183},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Living within: endosymbiosis in parasites of medical importance—profits, expenses, and implications for host–parasite interactions
AU - Iman R. Abdel Shafi
AU - Safeya O. El Bassiouni
AU - Magda S. A. Abdeltawab
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
DO - 10.3389/fcimb.2026.1956183
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2026.1956183
AB - Endosymbiosis is a biological relationship, where one organism lives within the body of another. The concept of endosymbiosis was first introduced relevant to the origin and development of organelles in eukaryotes. Later, microorganisms were reported to be associated with different eukaryotes including arthropods, parasitic helminths, and protozoa; subsequently, their role in parasite biology and parasite–human host interactions has been minded. Within this context, filaria–Wolbachia, Leishmania–Leishmania RNA virus (LRV), and Trichomonas–Trichomonas vaginalis virus (TVV) are extensively studied models that demonstrate how endosymbionts can directly drive immunomodulation in human host and worsen the clinical outcome, whereas Acanthamoeba stands out as a reservoir of an array of microorganisms including pathogenic bacteria, and a training hub for bacterial virulence evolution. Despite the progress achieved in understanding these models, the depth of characterization of endosymbionts across parasite taxa is markedly uneven. Disclosing the world of microorganisms living within parasites, especially with the advanced metagenomic analysis, constitutes an emerging field of research of immense scientific significance for parasitology, microbiology, and host–parasite interactions.
SN - 2235-2988
ER -