How an obscure sexually transmitted parasite tangos with the immune system

Trichomonas vaginalis also enlists helpers to battle other microbes

Trichomonas vaginalis

TRICKY PARASITE  Trichomonas vaginalis has a funny shape and some clever ways of infecting people.

David M. Phillips/Science Source

Frances Mercer runs a fight club.

In one corner, the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis, which causes a widespread sexually transmitted infection that many people have never heard of.