Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Hira Mohyuddin, Blanca Laffon, Joao P. Teixeira, Solange Costa, Armanda Teixeira-Gomes, Eduardo Pasaro, Niel Constantine, Aline Dagdag, Heidi K. Ortmeyer, Boris Tizenberg, Liubov Afram, Poyu Yen, Christopher Marano, Christopher A. Lowry, Andrew J. Hoisington, Jill A. Rachbeisel, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Carlota Lema-Arranz, Natalia Fernandez-Bertolez, Ana Maseda, Jose C. Millan-Calenti, Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Johanna M. Gostner, Dietmar Fuchs, Lisa A. Brenner, Laura Lorenzo-Lopez, Teodor T. Postolache
Summary: This study revealed an association between Toxoplasma gondii and frailty, but further research is needed for validation. Certain biomarkers related to inflammaging were associated with both Toxoplasma gondii and frailty, but they did not fully mediate the association between the two.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Iti Saraav, Luisa Cervantes-Barragan, Philipp Olias, Yong Fu, Qiuling Wang, Leran Wang, Yi Wang, Matthias Mack, Megan T. Baldridge, Thaddeus Stappenbeck, Marco Colonna, L. David Sibley
Summary: Oral infection with Toxoplasma gondii exacerbates damage to the colon caused by chemical irritant and impairs wound healing by suppressing stem cell regeneration. Enhanced tissue damage is due to inflammatory monocytes releasing inflammatory mediators.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Pablo-Jesus Marin-Garcia, Nuria Planas, Lola Llobat
Summary: This article reviews the detection methods, prevalence, and control measures of Toxoplasma gondii in the food industry. T. gondii is a common parasite that causes infection through food contamination, but standardized detection methods are currently lacking in the industry. The main detection methods include bioassays, cell culture, molecular and microscopic techniques, and serological methods. Due to the high prevalence of T. gondii in many food products, standardized detection methods and control measures are necessary.
Article
Immunology
Mohammad Mahdi Jafari, Zahra Azimzadeh Tabrizi, Mohammad Saaid Dayer, Nazanin Atieh Kazemi-Sefat, Mahshid Mohtashamifard, Rahimeh Mohseni, Atefeh Bagheri, Saeed Bahadory, Amir Karimipour-Saryazdi, Fatemeh Ghaffarifar
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with immune response, which can be used as prognosis markers. Immunotherapy has become a new approach for toxoplasmosis treatment.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Jiaofeng Huang, Jiaolong Zheng, Bang Liu, Lingling Lu, Haicong Wu, Su Lin, Dongliang Li
Summary: This study found that Toxoplasma gondii infection is associated with higher mortality in the general population, and this association is related to age and sex. This suggests that Toxoplasma gondii infection may be an important public health issue.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Syrian G. Sanchez, Emilie Bassot, Aude Cerutti, Hoa Mai Nguyen, Amel Aida, Nicolas Blanchard, Sebastien Besteiro
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is responsible for toxoplasmosis, a disease that can be serious when contracted during pregnancy, but can also be a threat for immunocompromised individuals. The study finds that targeting the apicoplast in bradyzoites, the latent form of the parasite, leads to a loss of long-term viability, suggesting the apicoplast as a potential therapeutic target.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maria de la Luz Galvan Ramirez, Judith Marcela Duenas-Jimenez, Adrian Fernando Gutierrez-Maldonado, Laura Rocio Rodriguez Perez
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and their agonists-antagonists on Toxoplasma infection in neurons in vitro. Results showed that 17β-estradiol alone or in combination with tamoxifen or progesterone could reduce the Toxoplasma infection in neurons. This suggests the essential participation of progesterone and estradiol and their classical receptors in regulating T. gondii neuron infection.
Article
Immunology
Amy C. Schumacher, Lina Elbadawi, Traci DeSalvo, Anne Straily, Daniel Ajzenberg, David Letzer, Ellen Moldenhauer, Tammy L. Handly, Dolores Hill, Marie-Laure Darde, Christelle Pomares, Karine Passebosc-Faure, Kristine Bisgard, Carlos A. Gomez, Cindy Press, Stephanie Smiley, Jose G. Montoya, James J. Kazmierczak
Summary: In 2017, an outbreak of toxoplasmosis was linked to undercooked venison served at a retreat in Wisconsin. Most of the attendees experienced illness, with laboratory results showing atypical features for toxoplasmosis. The strain of T. gondii found in the venison was a unique genotype, highlighting the potential risks of consuming undercooked game meat in North America.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Thais Cabral Monica, Fernanda Evers, Beatriz Souza Lima Nino, Fernanda Pinto-Ferreira, Jose Wander Bregano, Mariana Ragassi Urbano, Guita Rubinsky-Elefant, Roberta Lemos Freire, Italmar Teodorico Navarro, Regina Mitsuka-Bregano
Summary: The study examined the seroprevalence and risk factors of toxoplasmosis and toxocariasis in schoolchildren in Jataizinho, Parana, revealing associations with factors such as the mother's education level, age, presence of cats in the household, income, and presence of dogs. There was also an association between the two zoonoses, highlighting the importance of implementing control measures to reduce the incidence and risks of sequelae in children.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ragab M. Fereig, Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Summary: In this study, the cyto-nuclear and mitochondrial localization of TgPrx1 and TgPrx3 proteins in Toxoplasma gondii were revealed. Knocking out TgPrx1 and TgPrx3 genes in T. gondii resulted in decreased survival rate in mice infected with TgPrx3KO strain compared to TgPrx1KO and control strains. Additionally, TgPrx1KO and TgPrx3KO induced high levels of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and increased IL-6 and IL-12p40 production in infected mice and murine macrophages. These findings suggest that TgPrx3 may be a potential sub-unit vaccine candidate for controlling toxoplasmosis in susceptible humans and animals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Sylvie Abraham, Raphael Piarroux, Ying Zhou, Vera Tesic, Ana Abeleda, Nadhira Houhou-Fidouh, Pascale Nicaise-Rolland, Luce Landraud, Rima Mcleod, Sandrine Houze
Summary: The study evaluated a new immunochromatographic test Toxoplasma ICT IgG-IgM (ICT) for detecting specific anti-Tg immunoglobulins G (Ig G) and M (Ig M). ICT showed excellent performance with high sensitivity and specificity, especially for immunocompromised patients and low Ig G titers.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lokman Galal, Frederic Ariey, Meriadeg Ar Gouilh, Marie-Laure Darde, Azra Hamidovic, Franck Letourneur, Franck Prugnolle, Aurelien Mercier
Summary: This study analyzes 156 genomes of Toxoplasma gondii and provides estimates of the parasite's mutation rate and generation time. It reveals that a specific haplotype is associated with the spread of the parasite through cats, indicating its role in sexual reproduction.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rajib Acharjee, Keith K. Talaam, Endah D. Hartuti, Yuichi Matsuo, Takaya Sakura, Bundutidi M. Gloria, Shinya Hidano, Yasutoshi Kido, Mihoko Mori, Kazuro Shiomi, Masakazu Sekijima, Tomoyoshi Nozaki, Kousuke Umeda, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, Shinjiro Hamano, Kiyoshi Kita, Daniel K. Inaoka
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that infects a large portion of the global human population. A new potential drug target, TgMQO, has been identified in this study, and a novel expression system was developed to study its characteristics. Ferulenol, an MQO inhibitor, showed promising inhibitory effects on TgMQO, with distinct binding sites from other known inhibitors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Alin Gabriel Mihu, Maria Alina Lupu, Alexandru Nesiu, Daniela Teodora Marti, Tudor Rares Olariu
Summary: In Western Romania, the seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG is high in females of reproductive age, while T. gondii IgA antibodies may be rarely detected during serologic screening. Testing for T. gondii IgA in individuals with demonstrable T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies may improve the rate for the detection of recently acquired toxoplasmosis.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Ningbo Xia, Nuo Ji, Longjiao Li, Yuan Huang, Congshan Yang, Xuefang Guo, Qinghong Guo, Bang Shen, Lihua Xiao, Yaoyu Feng
Summary: This study investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors of T. gondii infection in cats across China. The study found higher infection rates in Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hunan, and reported the seroprevalence in Qinghai, Anhui, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, and Ningxia for the first time. Age and lifestyle (stray or pet) of cats were identified as risk factors for T. gondii infection.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Jordan Darden, Laura Beth Payne, Huaning Zhao, John C. Chappell
Article
Neurosciences
Marilyn J. Duncan, James M. Hester, Jason A. Hopper, Kathleen M. Franklin
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2010)
Article
Immunology
James Hester, Jeremi Mullins, Qila Sa, Laura Payne, Corinne Mercier, Marie-France Cesbron-Delauw, Yasuhiro Suzuki
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2012)
Article
Immunology
Qila Sa, Eri Ochiai, Tomoko Sengoku, Melinda E. Wilson, Morgan Brogli, Stephen Crutcher, Sara A. Michie, Baohui Xu, Laura Payne, Xisheng Wang, Yasuhiro Suzuki
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2014)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangshu Wen, Tomoya Kudo, Laura Payne, Xisheng Wang, Laurel Rodgers, Yasuhiro Suzuki
JOURNAL OF INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH
(2010)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
John C. Chappell, Laura Beth Payne, W. Kimryn Rathmell
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2019)
Review
Hematology
Laura B. Payne, Huaning Zhao, Carissa C. James, Jordan Darden, David McGuire, Sarah Taylor, James W. Smyth, John C. Chappell
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Beth Payne, Hanaa Abdelazim, Maruf Hoque, Audra Barnes, Zuzana Mironovova, Caroline E. Willi, Jordan Darden, Clifton Houk, Meghan W. Sedovy, Scott R. Johnstone, John C. Chappell
Summary: The platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) pathway crucially regulates cerebrovascular pericytes, affecting blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and cerebral perfusion. Soluble isoforms of the PDGF receptor-beta (sPDGFR beta) have been found in the brain and other tissues under normal physiological conditions. These isoforms are likely generated through pre-mRNA alternative splicing, in addition to enzymatic cleavage mechanisms. sPDGFR beta variants may play a role in maintaining pericyte quiescence, BBB integrity, cerebral perfusion, and neuronal health and function, influencing memory and cognition.
Article
Cell Biology
Laura Beth Payne, Jordan Darden, Ariana D. Suarez-Martinez, Huaning Zhao, Alissa Hendricks, Caitlin Hartland, Diana Chong, Erich J. Kushner, Walter L. Murfee, John C. Chappell
Summary: Pericytes play critical roles in vascular remodeling, with research using tissue explant models showing that pericytes detach, migrate, and proliferate in synchrony with endothelial cells during the process.
INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
John C. Chappell, Jordan Darden, Laura Beth Payne, Kathryn Fink, Victoria L. Bautch
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alexandra Arreola, Laura Beth Payne, Morgan H. Julian, Aguirre A. de Cubas, Anthony B. Daniels, Sarah Taylor, Huaning Zhao, Jordan Darden, Victoria L. Bautch, W. Kimryn Rathmell, John C. Chappell
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James Hester, Wendy Hanna-Rose, Francisco Diaz
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Kendra H. Steele, James M. Hester, Barbara J. Stone, Kimberly M. Carrico, Brett T. Spear, Angelika Fath-Goodin
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2013)