Miniature Worlds: Organoids in Parasitology, 8th November 2024

Taking advantage of the close institutional connections between Cambridge University Press and Assessment and the University of Cambridge, Parasitology supported an afternoon scientific meeting to explore the growing use of organoids within parasite and pathogen research. This meeting was particularly special for us as it was organised and hosted by our Editor – Professor Cinzia Cantacessi – who also brought together senior academics and junior researchers within Cambridge interested in infection and immunity. Details of the full programme can be found here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-file-manager/file/670e91bdecb8dc399f61206f/OrganoidsProgrammeNov24.pdf.

The scientific programme was very exciting. It allowed several leaders in this field to share their latest experiences and findings from their laboratories. In total, there were eight speakers representing universities across the UK, Ireland & Europe. With a larger international audience on site, speakers intermingled during lunch and break sessions for discussions and collaborative networking. As our meeting was also ‘hybrid’, around 100 attended online and were able to ask questions after each talk, with Cinzia relaying discussions through the chat space.

Amongst the many novel findings presented, two major highlights were the different ways in which researchers approach the use of organoids, as well as spheroids, in research. The first might be to better understand the cellular biology of host cells within a simplified 3-D architecture, as they experience parasite and pathogen attack. This then brings to bear their molecular armamentarium of altered gene expressions and protein productions through time. The second is to view this interaction from the pathogen and parasite perspective, where they can be better nurtured and visualised, ex vivo.

Replicating (Ki67-positive, green) cells in an ovine gastric (abomasal) organoid (left); an ovine gastric (abomasal) organoid (green) with a sheep stomach worm (red) occupying the luminal space (right). Image credit: Dr David Smith, Moredun Research Institute.

Across all presentations numerous video clips of fascinating parasite behaviour under the microscope were displayed to gain new insights into their developmental stages and counter responses. As one presenter pointed out, the poorly appreciated topic of tactile responses and taxis between hosts and parasites is a critical feature that stimulates these interactions, good and bad. For example, specialist tuft cells in the host’s intestinal mucosa, which can be enriched in organoids for better study, trigger specific intracellular pathways upon sensing parasites to later orchestrate immunological responses. Indeed, understanding and manipulating such pathways lends itself to exploring novel anti-parasitic drugs and vaccines. Unlocking the future potential of organoid research on human and livestock diseases will be a game changer in the years to come.

To assist with this, Parasitology will open a call soon for a Special Issue to bring together the latest scientific advances in this field, from understanding parasite biology, host-parasite interactions, and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. We will be excited to receive original research and review articles that address the following topics: Development and characterization of organoid models applied to Parasitology research; Parasite-host interactions in organoid models; Applications of organoid technology for the discovery and development of novel strategies of parasite control; Ethical considerations and future directions of organoid research in parasitology. For any queries, please contact parasitology@cambridge.org.

Featured image: The CUP team – John Ellis, Angus O’Ferrall, Alison Paskins, Russ Stothard, Cinzia Cantacessi & Natalie Olivero – at West Hub, University of Cambridge with Cinzia welcoming attendees.