Dendritic Cells Expressing Plasmacytoid Marker PDCA-1 Are Trojan Horses during Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are activated by Toxoplasma gondii to present antigen and produce cytokines.

Infection with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii leads to the induction of a Th1-type response dominated by IFN-gamma production and control of this pathogen. Cells of the innate immune system are essential in initiating this response both through the production of IL-12 as well as the presentation of parasite-derived Ags to MHC-restricted T cells. Although dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicat...

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells are dispensable during primary influenza virus infection.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are thought to be pivotal in the first line of defense against viral infections. Although previous studies have suggested that pDC regulate the immune response against respiratory syncytial virus, their role in pulmonary infection with influenza virus has remained unclear. Using mice with GFP-tagged pDC, we observed a marked increase in pDC numbers in the lung...

Dynamic Imaging of CD8+ T Cells and Dendritic Cells during Infection with Toxoplasma gondii

To better understand the initiation of CD8(+) T cell responses during infection, the primary response to the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii was characterized using 2-photon microscopy combined with an experimental system that allowed visualization of dendritic cells (DCs) and parasite specific CD8(+) T cells. Infection with T. gondii induced localization of both these populations to t...

Toxoplasma gondii Mice with Cells Emerging During Chronic Infection of Phenotype and Functions of Brain Dendritic

Early response of mucosal epithelial cells during Toxoplasma gondii infection.

The innate immune response of mucosal epithelial cells during pathogen invasion plays a central role in immune regulation in the gut. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan intracellular parasite that is usually transmitted through oral infection. Although much of the information on immunity to T. gondii has come from i.p. infection models, more recent studies have revealed the importance of studying...