The Interaction Networks of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in the Plasmodium and Leishmania Parasites

Tropical diseases affect the lives of at least one-tenth of the global population and are among the main global health priorities of the World Health Organization, the United Nations branch concerned with international public health. Most tropical diseases are caused by blood and tissue protozoal parasites, such as those belonging to the Plasmodium and Leishmania genera. Specifically, Leishmania spp. cause human leishmaniasis, and Plasmodium spp. cause malaria. Due to their overlapping geographical regions, these parasites are of great public health concern. They are microscopic, unicellular eukaryotes that are transmitted by blood-sucking insects, and this transmission can be stressful for both the parasites and the host. To cope with this stress, the parasites cycle between different stages in which many proteins are involved. Most of these proteins require assistance to reach their correct conformations; therefore, they are aided by molecular chaperones and Heat Shock Proteins (Hsps). Hsp70 and Hsp90 are the most important Hsps that assist in folding, and they are part of a Protein Quality Control system that helps maintain protein homeostasis. Furthermore, their functions in protozoa have expanded, as both Hsp70 and Hsp90 chaperones play important roles in cell growth and adaptation, allowing life cycle progression. Interaction networks of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in the Plasmodium and Leishmania genera are presented in this chapter.