Recent advances in Cryptosporidium secreted proteins.

As an apicomplexan parasite, Cryptosporidium possesses the conserved secretory organelles, micronemes, rhoptry and dense granules in addition to the unique small granules. These specialized organelles house various effectors that are secreted upon invasion, helping to establish cryptosporidiosis, a leading cause of severe diarrhea among children. Only recently has its proteome been defined, laying the foundation to unravel host-parasite interactions that are poorly understood in Cryptosporidium. Recent technical advances in genetic manipulation have helped elucidate the role of a few secreted effectors, highlighting the possibility of exploiting them in our journey to fight the disease.