The close parasite-host relationship involves different aspects such as the biochemical, physiological, morphological, and immunological adaptations. Studies on parasite-host interaction have provided a myriad of information about its biology and have established the building blocks for the development of new drug therapies to control the parasite. Several mechanisms for the parasite invasion have been proposed through in vivo or in vitro experimental data. Since the first histological studies until the studies on the function/structure of the involved molecules, this complex interaction has been roughly depicted. However, new recent strategies as genetic and proteomic approaches have tuned knowledge on how the host reacts to the parasite and how the parasite avoids these host’s reactions in order to survive.
Part of the book: Chagas Disease