Three Hungry Tryps: the efficient endocytic pathway of pathogenic trypanosomatids

Eukaryotic cells incorporate various molecules through a process known as endocytosis, which is crucial for the cell's survival and reproduction. While this process has been extensively studied in mammalian and yeast cells, significant contributions have also been made by researchers studying pathogenic protists. This review aims to present the most relevant information about the endocytic process in three important trypanosomatids: Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and Leishmania. Many protozoa exhibit strong endocytic activity across their entire surface. However, in trypanosomatids, this activity is highly polarized and occurs exclusively in the flagellar pocket. In the case of T. cruzi, endocytosis primarily takes place through the cytostome-cytopharynx complex. This process involves an entry site organization of the cytoskeleton, including the participation of specialized microtubules.