[Therapeutics and (hypothetical) vaccinations against human cryptosporidia]

Cryptosporidium (or cryptosporidiosis caused by them) is one of the most relevant infections of the intestinal tract. The unicellular parasites infect the intestinal cells and cause cramps, weight loss and diarrhea. Cryptosporidia play a special role in AIDS patients. Here they are counted among the diseases that define the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Because of this relevance, the search for vaccines is a relevant goal of gastroenterological research. But how realistic are such vaccines? This article describes the disease cryptosporidiosis and reviews current therapeutics and hypothetical vaccine candidates.