Trypanosomatids (family Trypanosomadidae) are single-celled eukaryotes, most of them obligate parasites. Some of these organisms can cause human diseases, such as Trypanosoma brucei (the causative agent of sleeping sickness), Trypanosoma cruzi (etiological agent of Chagas disease), and Leishmania spp. (the causative agents of the different spectra of leishmaniases). These diseases infect millions of individuals globally, mainly in low-income regions, causing a significant public health issue. Despite efforts, so far, there are no effective vaccines, and most treatment options rely on drugs developed several decades ago, where the risk of significant side effects are higher than the benefits of treatment. These pathogens present a dixenous life cycle, which means that to survive and replicate inside their two hosts, they must overcome several barriers, including host defense mechanisms and unfavorable environmental conditions. Researches worldwide have been exploring these and other global features in the search to develop and adapt methods and approaches to understand better the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathways and stages of the complex life cycle of these organisms.

The main goal of this Methods Collection is to provide detailed state-of-the-art procedures in basic and applied science involving parasitic trypanosomatids and other close-related organisms, such as kinetoplastids. I believe that this in-depth sharing of knowledge and techniques will improve the outcome and the development of trypanosomatids research. Also, this compilation of knowledge will contribute to expanding the array of technologies currently available to the entire scientific community, which includes students, young and senior researchers.