Adaptive and genetic evolution of Toxoplasma gondii: a host-parasite interaction

Adaptive and genetic evolution of Toxoplasma gondii: a host-parasite interaction.

Neurotropic Parasite Toxoplasma gondii and Immunosuppressed Patients

Toxoplasmosis is an anthropozoonosis caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. It presents a cosmopolitan geographic distribution, with high rates of infection in humans; capable of infecting nucleated cells from a wide variety of hosts. Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common opportunistic infections affecting HIV positiv...

Adaptive host manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii: fact or fiction?

It is widely accepted that behavioural changes induced by Toxoplasma gondii are an adaptation of the parasite to enhance transmission to its cat definitive host. In our opinion, this explanation requires a rethink. We argue that the experimental evidence that observed behavioural changes will enhance transmission to cats is not convincing. We also argue that cats and sexual reproduction may not...

Role of Toxoplasma gondii myosin A in powering parasite gliding and host cell invasion.

Obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasites rely on gliding motion powered by their actomyosin system to disperse throughout tissues and to penetrate host cells. Toxoplasma gondii myosin A has been implicated in this process, but direct proof has been lacking. We designed a genetic screen to generate a tetracycline-inducible transactivator system in T. gondii. The MyoA gene was disrupted in t...

Host Manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii