The Apicomplexa are obligate intracellular parasites responsible for several important human diseases. These protozoan organisms have evolved several strategies to modify the host cell environment to create a favorable niche for their survival. The host cytoskeleton is widely manipulated during all phases of apicomplexan intracellular
infection. Moreover, the localization and organization of host organelles are altered in order to scavenge nutrients from the host.
Small GTPases are a class of
proteins widely involved in intracellular pathways governing different processes, from cytoskeletal and organelle organization to gene transcription and intracellular trafficking. These
proteins are already known to be involved in
infection by several intracellular pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and protozoan parasites. In this review, we recapitulate the mechanisms by which apicomplexan parasites manipulate the host cell during
infection, focusing on the role of host
small GTPases. We also discuss the possibility of considering
small GTPases as potential targets for the development of novel host-targeted
therapies against apicomplexan
infections.