Abstract
The protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium is a major cause of diarrhoeal disease worldwide, with a significant burden of mortality in children under the age of five in low-income countries. In Aotearoa, our vast livestock industry is a significant driving force of human cryptosporidiosis infections, primarily through zoonotic infections in lambing and calving season. Despite its importance, Cryptosporidium research has long been neglected and many questions concerning the biology of this parasite remain unanswered. Recent publications have highlighted the potential role of extracellular vesicles in Cryptosporidium biology. Extracellular vesicles facilitate extracellular communication and are found in most organisms, including Cryptosporidium. In this study, we isolated extracellular vesicles derived from HCT-8 cells and Cryptosporidium parvum and investigated their effect on life cycle stages of C. parvum. Extracellular vesicles derived from both HCT-8 and C. parvum promoted C. parvum invasion and growth in HCT-8 cell culture. Proteomic analysis of these extracellular vesicles revealed the presence of histones, tetraspanins and heat shock proteins. Despite encountering significant challenges, this study lays out the groundwork for future research concerning the role of extracellular vesicles in C. parvum biology. This study highlights the need for further optimisation of extracellular vesicle isolation and characterization methods and the expansion of research concerning the effect of extracellular vesicles on C. parvum biology.