Arginine methylation is a post-translational modification involved in gene transcription, signalling pathways, DNA repair, RNA metabolism and splicing, among others, mechanisms that in protozoa parasites may be involved in pathogenicity-related events. This modification is performed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), which according to their products are divided into three main types: type I yields monomethylarginine (MMA) and asymmetric dimethylarginine; type II produces MMA and symmetric dimethylarginine; whereas type III catalyses MMA only. Nine PRMTs (PRMT1 to PRMT9) have been characterized in humans, whereas in protozoa parasites, except for Giardia intestinalis, three to eight PRMTs have been identified, where in each group there are at least two enzymes belonging to type I, the majority with higher similarity to human PRMT1, and one of type II, related to human PRMT5. However, the information on the role of most of these enzymes in the parasites biology is limited so far. Here, current knowledge of PRMTs in protozoan parasites is reviewed; these enzymes participate in the cell growth, stress response, stage transitions and virulence of these microorganisms. Thus, PRMTs are attractive targets for developing new therapeutic strategies against these pathogens.

Sphingolipids (SLs) are an integral part of all eukaryotic cellular membranes. In addition, they have indispensable functions as signalling molecules controlling a myriad of cellular events. Disruption of either the de novo synthesis or the degradation pathways has been shown to have detrimental effects. The earlier identification of selective inhibitors of fungal SL biosynthesis promised potent broad-spectrum anti-fungal agents, which later encouraged testing some of those agents against protozoan parasites. In this review we focus on the key enzymes of the SL de novo biosynthetic pathway in protozoan parasites of the Apicomplexa and Kinetoplastidae, outlining the divergence and interconnection between host and pathogen metabolism. The druggability of the SL biosynthesis is considered, alongside recent technology advances that will enable the dissection and analyses of this pathway in the parasitic protozoa. The future impact of these advances for the development of new therapeutics for both globally threatening and neglected infectious diseases is potentially profound.

Infections by protozoan parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum or Leishmania donovani, have a significant health, social and economic impact and threaten billions of people living in tropical and sub-tropical regions of developing countries worldwide. The increasing range of parasite strains resistant to frontline therapeutics makes the identification of novel drug targets and the development of corresponding inhibitors vital. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are important modulators of biology and inhibition of protein lipidation has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of parasitic diseases. In this review we summarize the latest insights into protein lipidation in protozoan parasites. We discuss how recent chemical proteomic approaches have delivered the first global overviews of protein lipidation in these organisms, contributing to our understanding of the role of this PTM in critical metabolic and cellular functions. Additionally, we highlight the development of new small molecule inhibitors to target parasite acyl transferases.

Coprophagous beetles belonging to two genera, Onitis and Heliocopris, were collected and fed on proglotids and eggs of Taenia saginata. The beetles' faeces was collected after 24 hr onwards and examined for Taenia eggs. The flight range and behaviour of the beetles was investigated using cow rumen contents as bait for starved marked beetles. Results indicate that coprophagous beetles could play a role in dissemination of taeniasis.