Omics: Approaches and applications related to diagnosis, treatment, and control of parasitic diseases. Part I: Plasmodium spp.

Abstract

Such studies strengthen knowledge of host-parasite interactions in each stage with relevant outcome in identifying novel potential drug targets . While immunomics identify parasite ABSTRACT Over the last two decades, omics studies provide a revolutionary advance of datasets in the field of Medical Parasitology for understanding parasite system biology, host-parasite interactions, and phylogenetic analyses; i.e., genomics, transcriptomes, proteomics, metabolomics. Together with bioinformatics, genome-wide associated studies (GWASs) enabled scientists to identify diagnostic biomarkers, promising drug targets, and potential vaccine candidates for diagnosis, treatment, and protection against several neglected tropical diseases. Omics approaches are either structural (genomics) or functional (post-genomics). To survive, Plasmodium spp. are able to delete certain genes unessential for their survival and growth, enabling them to evade host immune response. In addition, they undergo antigenic variations that lead to gene mutations in enzymes controlling drug uptake. Previously unattainable goals, e.g., host immunoevasion, susceptibility or resistance to infection, drug resistance, novel drugs as well as prevention and control were achieved by omics studies powered by bioinformatics tools. This part of the present review aims to shed light on omics application outcomes regarding Plasmodium