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Intracellular parasite

Helminths

Cryptosporidium parvum

Cryptosporidium

Intestinal parasite

Protozoan parasite

Computer science

Feces

Parasite hosting

Intracellular

Biology

Microbiology

Zoology

Cell biology

Cell Host & Microbe

Cryptosporidium emerged as a leading global cause of severe diarrheal disease in children. The parasite occupies a unique intracellular niche at the brush border of intestinal epithelial cells, where it undergoes a complex sexual life cycle. How this life cycle unfolds and how host and parasite interact remain largely to be discovered. A series of technical advances now offer genetic and immunological tools for mechanistic investigation of the parasite. Here we introduce the pathogen and disease and highlight important questions to tackle onward. We invite scientists to consider this versatile parasite model to probe the biology and immunology of the intestine.

The Biology of the Intestinal Intracellular Parasite Cryptosporidium