The Host-Parasite Neuroimmunoendocrine Network: Behavioral Consequences and Therapeutical Applications

Abstract

Parasites are a fascinating example of adaptation due to their complex strategies of colonization and invasion. They can exploit diverse mechanisms to alter host behavior that facilitates their establishment, growth, reproduction and in consequence their transmission. Additionally, these organisms play an important role in ecological interactions and ecosystem adjustment. In the host, the parasite can alter the environment through the inflammatory response, causing either damage or apoptosis in specific places or taking advantage of the neuroimmunoendocrine network of the host, turning a hostile environment into a facilitative one, conducive to their establishment, growth and reproduction into an immunocompetitive host. We review here in some detail our extensive work on the molecular changes of the host in response to parasite infection, as well as the role of these molecular changes in inducing behavioral changes on the host, including aggressive, reproductive, learning and cognitive behaviors during the course of infection. Also, a short review on the applications that these molecular changes may have in the drug design against parasitic infections is discussed.