Host-parasite interactions during toxoplasmosis

描述(申请人提供)：在美国，弓形虫是食源性死亡的第二大原因，超过6000万人持续感染这种微生物，这种感染是许多T细胞介导的免疫原发或获得性缺陷患者的担忧。由于弓形虫的易传播性和引起严重疾病的能力，被归类为B类生物防御病原体。弓形虫与宿主巨噬细胞和树突状细胞之间的初始相互作用是决定这种感染结果的关键，这种寄生虫可以向未感染的宿主细胞注入蛋白质，这些蛋白质被认为对抗它们控制感染的能力。利用新型转基因寄生虫，结合独特的小鼠品系和先进的成像技术，我们现在能够识别这些注射但未感染的种群，并提出实验以确定这些事件是否影响先天宿主反应或长期控制弓形虫所需的适应性反应的发展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the US, Toxoplasma Gondi is the second leading cause of food borne mortality and more than 60 million people are persistently infected with this organism and this infection is a concern in many patients with primary or acquired defects in T cell mediated immunity. Due to the ease of transmission and its ability to cause severe disease, T. Gondi is classified as a Class B Biodefense pathogen. The initial interaction between Toxoplasma and host macrophages and dendritic cells is key in determining the outcome of this infection and this parasite can inject proteins into uninfected host cells that are thought to antagonize their ability to control infection. Using novel transgenic parasites combined wth unique mouse strains and advanced imaging technologies we are now able to identify these injected but uninfected populations and propose experiments to determine whether these events affect the innate host response or the development of the adaptive response required for long term control of T. gondii.