Immune mechanisms are involved in the pathology of many parasitic infections. The main factors responsible for tissue injury during parasitic infections are chronicity of the infections, release of parasitic or host cells in tissues and blood, alteration and destruction of host tissue, presence of antigenic components shared by the host and the parasite, and relative inefficiency of the host in eliminating the antigens or cross-reacting antibodies. Parasitic infections are commonly asymptomatic. Pathology often occurs in individuals having reduced immunity and being therefore highly susceptible to the infection with high parasitic burdens. Pathology can also occur in individuals that are highly immunologically reactive, despite having low parasitic burdens. In this case, a breakdown of the immune-regulatory environment established by the host and the parasite may have occurred. Much attention has to be focused on the immune system that could be considered a therapeutic target for a new approach against parasitic infections.

We invite investigators to submit original research articles and reviews that will contribute to the general knowledge of immunity during parasitic infections, with particular emphasis on emerging and reemerging parasitic diseases, mainly including the following:

• Vector-borne parasitic diseases (e.g., caused by Leishmania, Babesia, and Dirofilaria)
• Foodborne and waterborne parasitic diseases (e.g., caused by Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Blastocystis, Toxoplasma, Sarcocystis, Echinococcus, and Trichinella)
• Ectoparasitic diseases (e.g. pediculosis, myiasis, tungiasis, scabies, and arthropod infestations)

We are particularly interested in articles investigating any aspect of the immune modulation to the aforementioned parasitic diseases, such as

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Characterization of the cell phenotype during parasitic diseases
• Cell-cell interactions and molecular mechanisms regulating the immune response to parasites
• Mechanisms of immune-evasion implemented by parasites
• Evidences of autoimmune diseases and immune-driven pathology associated with parasitic diseases
• Suppression of autoimmunity by parasitic diseases
• Immunological impact of parasite coinfections
• New advances in the field of parasite-induced carcinogenesis
• New approaches and techniques for investigating immune response in parasitic diseases (e.g., in vivo techniques)
• Advances in diagnostic techniques for parasite characterization
• Coinfections (e.g., HIV/TB/malaria and neglected parasitic/nonparasitic diseases)
• New advances in therapy of parasitic diseases