Host-parasite interactions during toxoplasmosis

描述（由申请方提供）：在美国，弓形虫是食源性死亡的第二大原因，超过6000万人持续感染该微生物，这种感染是许多原发性或获得性T细胞介导免疫缺陷患者的担忧。由于T.冈地被列为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，这种寄生虫可以将蛋白质注射到未感染的宿主细胞中，这些蛋白质被认为拮抗它们控制感染的能力。 利用新型转基因寄生虫与独特的小鼠品系和先进的成像技术相结合，我们现在能够识别这些注射但未感染的种群，并提出实验来确定这些事件是否影响先天宿主反应或长期控制T.刚地。

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.