Article
Immunology
Min Chen, Pei Yang, Zixuan Xin, Jiating Chen, Weihao Zou, Lijuan Zhou, Lili Yang, Jiao Peng, Hongjuan Peng
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen causing toxoplasmosis and has similarities with immunotherapy for cancers. The knockout of GRA5 gene in T. gondii resulted in an avirulent strain that stimulated immune responses. ME49 & UDelta;gra5 vaccination provided protection against T. gondii infection and breast cancer by boosting anti-tumor responses. The vaccine upregulated Th1 cytokines and tumor-infiltrating T cells, and increased the number of immune cells in the spleen.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Hong-chao Sun, Pu-ming Deng, Yuan Fu, Jin-hua Deng, Rong-hui Xie, Jing Huang, Meng Qi, Tuan-yuan Shi
Summary: In this study, PLGA nanoparticles were used as a delivery system for T. gondii GRA12 and GRA7 antigens. Mice immunized with PLGA+GRA12 showed higher levels of IgG antibodies, increased lymphocyte proliferation, and a predominant Th1 immune response. Immunization with PLGA+GRA12 vaccine resulted in significantly reduced parasite loads and longer survival times compared to other vaccinated groups. However, PLGA was ineffective in enhancing the immune response induced by T. gondii GRA7.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ru Wang, Minmin Wu, Haijian Cai, Ran An, Ying Chen, Jie Wang, Nan Zhou, Jian Du
Summary: GRA3 protein is involved in the transmission and proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii by interacting with the host cell endoplasmic reticulum. Antigenic peptide sequences were selected to develop polyclonal antibodies against GRA3. The GRA3 PcAb specifically recognized GRA3 protein of Toxoplasma gondii type II ME49 strain. The development of GRA3 PcAbs is expected to reveal the molecular mechanisms of GRA3 in regulating host cell function and contribute to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for toxoplasmosis.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Ki-Back Chu, Fu-Shi Quan
Summary: Toxoplasmosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is a globally important parasite-borne zoonotic disease, with approximately one-third of the world's population estimated to be infected with T. gondii. Efforts to develop a vaccine for T. gondii have been ongoing for decades, with various strategies tested in rodents showing promising results. However, the translation of these results into clinical studies remains a major obstacle to overcome for the development of a human vaccine.
Article
Immunology
Keon-Woong Yoon, Ki-Back Chu, Hae-Ji Kang, Min-Ju Kim, Gi-Deok Eom, Su-Hwa Lee, Eun-Kyung Moon, Fu-Shi Quan
Summary: Intranasal immunization with T. gondii ROP4 rBVs induces better mucosal and systemic immunity, leading to enhanced protection against lethal challenge infection compared to oral immunization.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Mutiat Hammed-Akanmu, Maria Mim, Abdinasir Yusuf Osman, Abdulrahman M. Sheikh, Esmaeil Behmard, Ali A. Rabaan, Rapeah Suppain, Khalid Hajissa
Summary: Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can cause serious clinical outcomes, but there is currently no effective human vaccine. This study aimed to design a potential vaccine candidate using epitopes from immunogenic antigens of T. gondii. The designed multi-epitope vaccine was found to be stable and immunogenic, and showed interactions with the immune receptor TLR-4. Further laboratory assessments are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Susana Sousa, Antonio Castro, Jose Manuel Correia da Costa, Eulalia Pereira
Summary: A simple and highly efficient method for Toxoplasma gondii serotyping based on gold nanoparticles was developed, using synthetic polymorphic peptides modified gold nanoparticles to successfully detect antibodies in mouse and human serum samples. The optimization of experimental conditions was found to be crucial for sensitive discrimination between positive and negative sera.
Article
Parasitology
Mohammadreza Alijani, Behnaz Saffar, Hossein Yosefi Darani, Mohammadreza Mahzounieh, Mahdi Fasihi-Ramandi, Mostafa Shakshi-Niaei, Sodabe Soltani, Amir Ghaemi, Sadegh Shirian
Summary: A DNA vaccine encoding multiple antigens of T. gondii was constructed and evaluated in BALB/c mice. The mice immunized with this vaccine showed enhanced immune responses, including higher levels of antibodies and cytokines, as well as prolonged survival time.
EXPERIMENTAL PARASITOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rabia Yilmaz-Ozturk, Hilal Calik, Serkan Yaman, Eslin Ustun-Karatop, Rabia Cakir-Koc
Summary: Poly(dicarboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene (PCPP) polymer was used as adjuvant to load the immunogenic peptide antigen and synthesize peptide-loaded PCPP microparticles. In vivo experiments on Balb/c mice showed that immunization with these microparticles resulted in significantly higher antibody and cytokine responses. The novel multi-epitope peptide-loaded PCPP microparticle-based vaccine demonstrated considerable humoral and cellular immune responses against T. gondii and protected mice against T. gondii infection during Toxoplasmosis.
COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Seyedmousa Motavallihaghi, Mojgan Ghaemipanaeian, Sara Soleimani Asl, Faeze Foroughi-Parvar, Amir Hossein Maghsood
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on a multiple sclerosis (MS) mouse model. The results showed that chronic toxoplasmosis could inhibit the development of MS, reduce clinical symptoms, and decrease the levels of inflammatory cells and cytokines. These findings suggest that chronic toxoplasmosis may have therapeutic potential for MS.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Calogero Edoardo Cicero, Francesca Elsa Allibrio, Loretta Giuliano, Jaime Luna, Pierre-Marie Preux, Alessandra Nicoletti
Summary: The study found through a systematic review and meta-analysis that there is an association between T. gondii infection and multiple sclerosis (MS), suggesting that T. gondii infection may have a protective effect against the development of MS.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Ragab M. Fereig, Mosaab A. Omar, Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
Summary: Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are important protozoan diseases worldwide, and controlling these diseases is currently challenging. Understanding host-parasite interactions and host strategies to combat infections can aid in developing effective control measures, including vaccines. Macrophages and the production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) play a crucial role in successful vaccine candidates. However, identifying potential vaccine candidates is a time-consuming process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zohreh Khorshidvand, Sadegh Shirian, Hanieh Amiri, Alireza Zamani, Amir Hossein Maghsood
Summary: The study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of propranolol hydrochloride (PRO) in combination with chitosan nanoparticles (CS NPs) as an adjuvant for a vaccine against T. gondii. The results showed that mice immunized with CS-SAG1-PRO NPs had the highest lymphocyte proliferation rate, increased secretion of various cytokines, and elevated levels of protective cytokines. The mice also exhibited a higher level of T. gondii-specific IgG, indicating an immune response biased towards Th1 cells. This approach holds promise for immunostimulation and vaccine delivery against T. gondii infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Bombardi, Filippo Favretto, Marco Pedretti, Carolina Conter, Paola Dominici, Alessandra Astegno
Summary: In this study, the binding properties of Centrin 1 and its interaction with the repeats of SFI1 in Toxoplasma gondii were investigated using various biophysical methods. The results showed that the repeats in SFI1 serve as binding sites for Centrin 1, but the binding modes differ in terms of affinity, Ca2+ sensitivity, and lobe-specific interaction. These findings suggest that Centrin 1 exhibits conformational plasticity, allowing for precise binding and regulation with the repeats of SFI1 during Ca2+ sensing, which is crucial for the dynamic association of Centrin 1 with SFI1 in centrosome architecture.
Article
Immunology
Keon-Woong Yoon, Ki-Back Chu, Hae-Ji Kang, Min-Ju Kim, Gi-Deok Eom, Fu-Shi Quan
Summary: In this study, it was found that rVV vaccines induced immune responses against Toxoplasma gondii, including high levels of antibody and cellular responses, providing protection against lethal infection.
