Author(s): Fernandes, Ruben ; Ferreira, Stephanie ; Botelho, Mónica C.
Date: 2018
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/5662
Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Nacional de Saúde
Subject(s): Schistosoma haematobium; Theileria; Cancer; miR-155; Parasites
The genus Theileria comprises apicomplexan parasites that are tick-transmitted and infect ruminants with important trade and industry impact in endemic countries. Infectious agents build up elaborate machinery to work together by means of host cell pathways and takeover their genetic and epigenetic mechanisms to modify phenotypic status of host cells. Among the Apicomplexa phylum encompassing obligate intracellular parasites, the only genus that introduces its DNA into mammalian host cells is Theileria, which is known to cause veterinary and human diseases. Various species, including Theileria parva and Theileria annulata, infect leukocytes causing alterations in their phenotypes that are common with several cancers, remarkably immortalization, hyperproliferation, and spreading. (...)
