How the cell’s recycling process affects infections by single-celled parasites

Autophagy is crucial for cell survival under stress conditions and for eliminating pathogens.

• Autophagy transports substances to lysosomes for degradation, aiding in cell survival during stress.
• It plays a role in the elimination of foreign pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.
• Protozoa are divided into intracellular and extracellular categories, both posing public health threats.
• Research has primarily focused on intracellular protozoa like Toxoplasma and Plasmodium, with less attention on extracellular ones.
• The review highlights autophagy's role in balancing host defenses against parasites and the parasites' strategies to exploit the host.

Simplified