Article
Parasitology
Guang Chen, Shuang-chun Liu, Xiao-yan Fan, Yue-lei Jin, Xin Li, Yun-ting Du
Summary: The study found that differential expression of long non-coding RNAs (IncRNAs) in the host occurs during Plasmodium infection, and these differentially expressed IncRNAs are associated with genes and the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway related to malaria infection. The changes in IncRNA expression induced by Plasmodium infection may be a novel mechanism used by the parasite to modify host immune signaling.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li-Juan Zhou, Jiao Peng, Min Chen, Li-Jie Yao, Wei-Hao Zou, Cynthia Y. He, Hong-Juan Peng
Summary: TgSAG1 is a crucial surface protein of tachyzoites that plays a role in parasite invasion and host immune regulation by interacting with S100A6. This interaction affects the invasion process and host cell response, ultimately leading to the secretion of TNF-alpha through specific signaling pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bingjian Ren, Manuela Schmid, Mattea Scheiner, Hans-Joachim Mollenkopf, Richard Lucius, Emanuel Heitlinger, Nishith Gupta
Summary: Successful asexual reproduction of intracellular pathogens relies on their ability to exploit host resources and evade antimicrobial defenses. In this study, two common apicomplexan parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria falciformis, were used to investigate their interactions with mammalian cells, revealing distinct responses from individual host cells to different pathogens. The master transcription factor cFos was found to play a crucial role in the infection process, affecting the growth of both parasites in host cells. Overall, a network centered around cFos was identified, along with underlying signal cascades and a variety of nucleotide- and ion-binding proteins, which work together to help the mammalian cell adapt and facilitate parasite development.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kayla L. Menard, Lijing Bu, Eric Y. Denkers
Summary: The study identified differential gene expression in host cells infected with highly virulent RH strain versus less virulent PTG strain, with more immune response-related genes being upregulated in response to RH strain. Additionally, non-coding RNAs showed differential expression between infection with RH and PTG strains. The results provide insights into the immune response mechanisms and the role of long noncoding RNAs during Toxoplasma gondii infection.
Article
Microbiology
Geetha Kannan, Pariyamon Thaprawat, Tracey L. Schultz, Vern B. Carruthers
Summary: This study demonstrates that Toxoplasma gondii bradyzoites can ingest host-derived cytosolic proteins across the cyst wall, providing insight into how the parasite obtains resources within infected cells. Disruption of a parasite protease enhances accumulation of host-derived protein within the chronic-stage parasites, suggesting a potential role in supporting the parasite's persistence.
Article
Parasitology
Fumiaki Ihara, Yoshifumi Nishikawa
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii secretes various effector molecules to manipulate host cell signaling pathways, favoring its survival and replication within the host.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Carlos Gorbea, Abdalla Elhakiem, Demian Cazalla
Summary: Just like host cells, viruses also express different classes of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) to control the cellular environment. These viral ncRNAs have diverse functions, including regulating viral replication, latency/reactivation decision, immune evasion, and cellular transformation. Studying the ncRNAs expressed by adenoviruses and herpesviruses has provided insights into RNA-based mechanisms in host cells.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Pupu Ge, Zehui Lei, Yang Yu, Zhe Lu, Lihua Qiang, Qiyao Chai, Yong Zhang, Dongdong Zhao, Bingxi Li, Yu Pang, Cui Hua Liu, Jing Wang
Summary: PknG promotes macroautophagy/autophagy induction by competitively binding to AKT and inhibits autophagosome maturation through targeting RAB14, resulting in blocked autophagy flux and enhanced pathogen intracellular survival.
Article
Immunology
Minmin Wu, Ran An, Nan Zhou, Ying Chen, Haijian Cai, Qi Yan, Ru Wang, Qingli Luo, Li Yu, Lijian Chen, Jian Du
Summary: IFN-gamma-activated macrophages can inhibit the replication of Toxoplasma gondii less virulent strain and promote the localization of immunity-related GTPases and guanylate-binding proteins through interaction with host autophagy proteins, thus controlling the proliferation of parasites.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Sha-Sha Wang, Chun-Xue Zhou, Hany M. Elsheikha, Jun-Jun He, Feng-Cai Zou, Wen-Bin Zheng, Xing-Quan Zhu, Guang-Hui Zhao
Summary: This study revealed the transcriptional changes during Toxoplasma gondii infection in human cells through RNA sequencing, and identified differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis showed that T. gondii infection affected genes involved in host immune response, receptor signaling, disease, and metabolism. These results provide novel information for further research on the role of lncRNAs in immune regulation during T. gondii infection.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew L. Blank, Jing Xia, Mary M. Morcos, Mai Sun, Pamela S. Cantrell, Yang Liu, Xuemei Zeng, Cameron J. Powell, Nathan Yates, Martin J. Boulanger, Jon P. Boyle
Summary: Research identified interactions between a single parasite effector and multiple target host proteins at the interface between the Toxoplasma gondii vacuole and the host mitochondria, some of which are critical for the HMA phenotype itself.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Chen, Lijie Yao, Lijuan Zhou, Pei Yang, Weihao Zou, Liqing Xu, Shengmin Li, Hongjuan Peng
Summary: TgROP18(I) inhibits type I interferon responses to facilitate parasitic replication in various host cells.
Review
Immunology
Jiating Chen, Wenzhong Liao, HongJuan Peng
Summary: Toxoplasma gondii can reverse tumor-induced immunosuppression by activating the host's immune system, leading to tumor growth inhibition. This has important implications for the development of more effective immunotherapies.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Damien Dupont, Jian-Sheng Lin, Francois Peyron, Hideo Akaoka, Martine Wallon
Summary: The study demonstrated that Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to chronic alterations in sleep-wake states in mice, characterized by increased time spent awake, increased cortical EEG theta power density, and decreased slow-wave sleep. These effects can be alleviated by anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroid dexamethasone, shedding light on the neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders reported in infected patients.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Adriana Lori, Dimitrios Avramopoulos, Alex W. Wang, Jennifer Mulle, Nicholas Massa, Erica J. Duncan, Abigail Powers, Karen Conneely, Charles F. Gillespie, Tanja Jovanovic, Kerry J. Ressler, Brad D. Pearce
Summary: The study found that the polygenic risk score for schizophrenia (SCZ-PRS) is significantly associated with uninfected individuals but not with those infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This highlights the importance of considering environmental risk factors in identifying subgroups with independent or different genetic components involved in the development of schizophrenia.
COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Kayla L. Menard, Breanne E. Haskins, Eric Y. Denkers
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Microbiology
Lindsey A. H. Shallberg, Anthony T. A. Phan, David A. A. Christian, Joseph A. Perry, Breanne E. Haskins, Daniel P. Beiting, Tajie H. Harris, Anita A. Koshy, Christopher A. Hunter
Summary: The study characterizes the TCR-driven phenotypes of CD8(+) T cell responses to Toxoplasma gondii infection using genetic reporters, high parameter flow cytometry, and imaging techniques. The results demonstrate that recent TCR activation contributes to the phenotypic heterogeneity of the CD8(+) T cell response, but has limited impact on memory populations during acute and chronic stages of infection.