Identification of structural proteins in the tissue cyst wall of Toxoplasma gondii

大多数刚地弓形虫感染是无症状的，然而，在怀孕期间感染可导致流产或发育中的婴儿失明、耳聋和智力迟钝。此外，在艾滋病患者中，弓形虫病是致命脑炎的主要原因，因为正常休眠的组织囊肿在缺乏有效免疫系统的情况下被重新激活。在澳大利亚，据估计约有30%的人口感染了弓形虫，先天性弓形虫病的发病率占活产婴儿的0.2%，相当于每年约500例。我们的研究将确定弓形虫囊壁的结构蛋白，这将导致设计新的策略来控制由这些寄生虫引起的疾病。

Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii are asymptomatic, however, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage or blindness, deafness and mental retardation in the developing baby. Furthermore, in AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis is the leading cause of fatal encephalitis as the normally dormant tissue cysts are reactivated in the absence of an effective immune system. In Australia, it has been estimated that ~30% of the population is infected with T. gondii and the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis is 0.2% of live births, which translates to roughly 500 cases/year. Our research will identify structural proteins in Toxoplasma cyst walls that will lead to the design of new strategies to control the diseases caused by these parasites.