Cryptosporidium-host interactions: What’s new?

Abstract

Species of Cryptosporidium are a leading cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide, with severe outcomes in immunocompromised individuals and malnourished children. Despite the significant public health impact, no effective drug exists for these vulnerable populations. How Cryptosporidium spp. interact with the host remains incompletely understood. However, recent technological advances have begun to uncover novel mechanisms involved in parasite attachment, invasion, immune evasion through host pathway manipulation, potential host cell transformation, interactions with the gut microbiota, and modulation of viral co-infections. In this review, we synthesise these recent findings, offering an updated perspective on host-parasite dynamics and their implications for new therapeutic strategies.