[Apoptosis and programmed cell death. Host parasite relationship new paradigm]. / Apoptose et mort cellulaire programmée, un nouveau paradigme de la relation hôte/parasite.

ABSTRACT

Apoptosis and programmed cell death are amongst the most fascinating new concepts for understanding the host-parasite relationship. A growing body data is raising questions about the impact of the death of an individual parasite on the survival of the parasite population as a whole. Does the parasite induce the death of the host cell as an expression of virulence or does it inhibit that death as a factor for transmissibility? Current evidence that these effects are mediated through specific highly regulated mechanisms suggest that deciphering programmed cell death could provide new tools for control of parasitic diseases.