“…MSCs in prokaryotes have been postulated to participate in quorum sensing, biofilm formation, and regulation of virulence factors ( Siryaporn et al, 2014 ; O'Loughlin et al, 2013 ; Thomen et al, 2017 ; Prindle et al, 2015 ). Protozoan pathogens, like trypanosomes and apicomplexans, are subjected to mechanical forces associated with shear stress in the bloodstream ( Harker et al, 2014 ; Sumpio et al, 2015 ), extravasation ( Laperchia et al, 2016 ; Coates et al, 2013 ), and invasion of tissues required for establishing persistent infection ( Barragan et al, 2005 ; Barragan and Sibley, 2002 ; Capewell et al, 2016 ; Trindade et al, 2016 ; Mattos et al, 2019 ). While it is clear that mechanical cues modulate the parasite’s life cycle and behavior, the molecular mechanism underlying sensing and triggering of the responses required for survival is unknown.…”