Editorial: Advancing treatments for protozoan diseases: from resistance mechanisms to novel therapies

A central theme of this collection is the identification of novel molecular targets and regulatory mechanisms. In an Original Research article, Alonso et al. investigate bromodomain factor 3 (TcBDF3) in Trypanosoma cruzi, identifying 1,3,4-oxadiazoles as promising inhibitors with trypanocidal activity. Complementing this, Níttolo et al. characterize the RNA-binding protein TcSR62 as a potential therapeutic target and demonstrate the repurposing potential of sorafenib tosylate. In Plasmodium falciparum, Wunderlich et al. provide transcriptomic insights into iron transport pathways, revealing key proteins involved in parasite iron homeostasis and identifying potential targets for antimalarial strategies. In the same organism, Chakraborty et al. evaluate the role of the phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein PfPEBP using CRISPR/Cas9mediated gene disruption. Their comprehensive phenotypic analysis demonstrates that PfPEBP is expressed throughout the intraerythrocytic life cycle but is dispensable for asexual growth, gametocyte development, and gametogenesis under in vitro conditions. Collectively, the studies in this Research Topic underscore the complexity of protozoan diseases and highlight multiple complementary strategies to address them. These include targeting essential molecular pathways, repurposing existing drugs, developing novel compounds, and leveraging interdisciplinary approaches such as genomics, bioinformatics, and One Health frameworks.We thank all authors and reviewers for their valuable contributions and hope that this collection will stimulate further research and foster collaborations aimed at advancing the understanding and treatment of protozoan diseases.