STING or Sting: cGAS-STING-Mediated Immune Response to Protozoan Parasites

Emerging evidence suggests that the DNA-sensing pathway plays a crucial role in innate immunity against multiple diseases, especially infectious diseases. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), as a DNA sensor, and stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING), as an adaptor protein, are the central components that link DNA sensing to immunologic functions - including, but not limited to, the type I IFN response. Recently, a series of studies have revealed that genomic DNA from protozoan parasites triggers the cGAS-STING pathway, and these studies identified the positive and negative regulators that modulate the signaling in parasite infection. Here, we summarize current understanding of the critical functions and potential applications of the cGAS-STING axis in parasitic diseases, specifically those caused by malaria parasites.