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Lüder CGK. IFNs in host defence and parasite immune evasion during Toxoplasma gondii infections. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1356216. [PMID: 38384452 PMCID: PMC10879624 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1356216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines with diverse functions in host resistance to pathogens and in immune regulation. Type II IFN, i.e. IFN-γ, is widely recognized as a major mediator of resistance to intracellular pathogens, including the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. More recently, IFN-α/β, i.e. type I IFNs, and IFN-λ (type III IFN) have been identified to also play important roles during T. gondii infections. This parasite is a widespread pathogen of humans and animals, and it is a model organism to study cell-mediated immune responses to intracellular infection. Its success depends, among other factors, on the ability to counteract the IFN system, both at the level of IFN-mediated gene expression and at the level of IFN-regulated effector molecules. Here, I review recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying IFN-mediated host resistance and immune regulation during T. gondii infections. I also discuss those mechanisms that T. gondii has evolved to efficiently evade IFN-mediated immunity. Knowledge of these fascinating host-parasite interactions and their underlying signalling machineries is crucial for a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis, and it might also identify potential targets of parasite-directed or host-directed supportive therapies to combat the parasite more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten G. K. Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Virology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Overview of Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Processes in Toxoplasma gondii Infected Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020253. [PMID: 36839525 PMCID: PMC9966443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite. During the parasitic invasion, T. gondii creates a parasitophorous vacuole, which enables the modulation of cell functions, allowing its replication and host infection. It has effective strategies to escape the immune response and reach privileged immune sites and remain inactive in a controlled environment in tissue cysts. This current review presents the factors that affect host cells and the parasite, as well as changes in the immune system during host cell infection. The secretory organelles of T. gondii (dense granules, micronemes, and rhoptries) are responsible for these processes. They are involved with proteins secreted by micronemes and rhoptries (MIC, AMA, and RONs) that mediate the recognition and entry into host cells. Effector proteins (ROP and GRA) that modify the STAT signal or GTPases in immune cells determine their toxicity. Interference byhost autonomous cells during parasitic infection, gene expression, and production of microbicidal molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), result in the regulation of cell death. The high level of complexity in host cell mechanisms prevents cell death in its various pathways. Many of these abilities play an important role in escaping host immune responses, particularly by manipulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and inflammation. Here we present recent works that define the mechanisms by which T. gondii interacts with these processes in infected host cells.
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Hakimi MA. Epigenetic Reprogramming in Host-Parasite Coevolution: The Toxoplasma Paradigm. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:135-155. [PMID: 35587934 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041320-011520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Like many intracellular pathogens, the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii has evolved sophisticated mechanisms to promote its transmission and persistence in a variety of hosts by injecting effector proteins that manipulate many processes in the cells it invades. Specifically, the parasite diverts host epigenetic modulators and modifiers from their native functions to rewire host gene expression to counteract the innate immune response and to limit its strength. The arms race between the parasite and its hosts has led to accelerated adaptive evolution of effector proteins and the unconventional secretion routes they use. This review provides an up-to-date overview of how T. gondii effectors, through the evolution of intrinsically disordered domains, the formation of supramolecular complexes, and the use of molecular mimicry, target host transcription factors that act as coordinating nodes, as well as chromatin-modifying enzymes, to control the fate of infected cells and ultimately the outcome of infection. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Microbiology, Volume 76 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France;
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4
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Li D, Xu J, Yang MQ. Gene Regulation Analysis Reveals Perturbations of Autism Spectrum Disorder during Neural System Development. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121901. [PMID: 34946850 PMCID: PMC8700980 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impedes patients' cognition, social, speech and communication skills. ASD is highly heterogeneous with a variety of etiologies and clinical manifestations. The prevalence rate of ASD increased steadily in recent years. Presently, molecular mechanisms underlying ASD occurrence and development remain to be elucidated. Here, we integrated multi-layer genomics data to investigate the transcriptome and pathway dysregulations in ASD development. The RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) expression profiles of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neuron cells from ASD and normal samples were compared in our study. We found that substantially more genes were differentially expressed in the NPCs than the iPSCs. Consistently, gene set variation analysis revealed that the activity of the known ASD pathways in NPCs and neural cells were significantly different from the iPSCs, suggesting that ASD occurred at the early stage of neural system development. We further constructed comprehensive brain- and neural-specific regulatory networks by incorporating transcription factor (TF) and gene interactions with long 5 non-coding RNA(lncRNA) and protein interactions. We then overlaid the transcriptomes of different cell types on the regulatory networks to infer the regulatory cascades. The variations of the regulatory cascades between ASD and normal samples uncovered a set of novel disease-associated genes and gene interactions, particularly highlighting the functional roles of ELF3 and the interaction between STAT1 and lncRNA ELF3-AS 1 in the disease development. These new findings extend our understanding of ASD and offer putative new therapeutic targets for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA;
| | - Joshua Xu
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicological Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA;
- Correspondence: (J.X.); (M.Q.Y.)
| | - Mary Qu Yang
- MidSouth Bioinformatics Center, Joint Bioinformatics Graduate Program of University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA
- Correspondence: (J.X.); (M.Q.Y.)
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5
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Panas MW, Boothroyd JC. Seizing control: How dense granule effector proteins enable Toxoplasma to take charge. Mol Microbiol 2021; 115:466-477. [PMID: 33400323 PMCID: PMC8344355 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Control of the host cell is crucial to the Apicomplexan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, while it grows intracellularly. To achieve this goal, these single-celled eukaryotes export a series of effector proteins from organelles known as "dense granules" that interfere with normal cellular processes and responses to invasion. While some effectors are found attached to the outer surface of the parasitophorous vacuole (PV) in which Toxoplasma tachyzoites reside, others are found in the host cell's cytoplasm and yet others make their way into the host nucleus, where they alter host transcription. Among the processes that are severely altered are innate immune responses, host cell cycle, and association with host organelles. The ways in which these crucial processes are altered through the coordinated action of a large collection of effectors is as elegant as it is complex, and is the central focus of the following review; we also discuss the recent advances in our understanding of how dense granule effector proteins are trafficked out of the PV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael W. Panas
- Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
| | - John C. Boothroyd
- Dept. Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
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Yu Z, Zhou T, Luo Y, Dong L, Li C, Liu J, Luo J, Yan R, Xu L, Song X, Li X. Modulation Effects of Toxoplasma gondii Histone H2A1 on Murine Macrophages and Encapsulation with Polymer as a Vaccine Candidate. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040731. [PMID: 33287313 PMCID: PMC7761694 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is the most common zoonotic protozoa and has infected about one-third of the population worldwide. Recombinant epitopes encapsulated in nanospheres have advantages over traditional T. gondii vaccines. For an efficient delivery system, poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan are the most frequently used biodegradable polymeric nanospheres with strong safety profiles. In the present study, we first expressed and purified histone H2A1 of T. gondii using the prokaryotic expression system. The effects of recombinant TgH2A1 on the functions of murine macrophages were then studied. Purified recombinant TgH2A1 was then encapsulated in nanospheres with PLGA and chitosan. After subcutaneous vaccination in mice, the immune response was evaluated by double antibody sandwich ELISA kits. The results from this study showed that PLGA and chitosan loaded with rTgH2A1 could trigger a stronger Th1 oriented immune response and prolong the survival time of mice effectively. In conclusion, PLGA and chitosan nanospheres loaded with histone H2A1 are an effective method for the development of vaccines against T. gondii. Further studies should focus on evaluating the regulatory mechanism of TgH2A1, vaccine potency, and cellular response in chronic T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqing Yu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Tianyuan Zhou
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Yanxin Luo
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Lu Dong
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Chunjing Li
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Junlong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (J.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Jianxun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China; (J.L.); (J.L.)
| | - Ruofeng Yan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Lixin Xu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaokai Song
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiangrui Li
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (Z.Y.); (T.Z.); (Y.L.); (L.D.); (C.L.); (R.Y.); (L.X.); (X.S.)
- Correspondence:
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7
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Li JX, He JJ, Elsheikha HM, Ma J, Xu XP, Zhu XQ. ROP18-Mediated Transcriptional Reprogramming of HEK293T Cell Reveals New Roles of ROP18 in the Interplay Between Toxoplasma gondii and the Host Cell. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:586946. [PMID: 33330132 PMCID: PMC7734210 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.586946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes a number of virulence-related effector proteins, such as the rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18). To further broaden our understanding of the molecular functions of ROP18, we examined the transcriptional response of human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T) to ROP18 of type I T. gondii RH strain. Using RNA-sequencing, we compared the transcriptome of ROP18-expressing HEK293T cells to control HEK293T cells. Our analysis revealed that ROP18 altered the expression of 750 genes (467 upregulated genes and 283 downregulated genes) in HEK293T cells. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix– and immune–related GO terms and pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs were involved in several disease-related pathways, such as nervous system diseases and eye disease. ROP18 significantly increased the alternative splicing pattern “retained intron” and altered the expression of 144 transcription factors (TFs). These results provide new insight into how ROP18 may influence biological processes in the host cells via altering the expression of genes, TFs, and pathways. More in vitro and in vivo studies are required to substantiate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Xi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jun-Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Pei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, China
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8
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Nast R, Choepak T, Lüder CGK. Epigenetic Control of IFN-γ Host Responses During Infection With Toxoplasma gondii. Front Immunol 2020; 11:581241. [PMID: 33072127 PMCID: PMC7544956 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.581241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Host defense against the human pathogen Toxoplasma gondii depends on secretion of interferon (IFN)-γ and subsequent activation of monocytic cells to combat intracellular parasites. Previous studies have shown that T. gondii evades IFN-γ-mediated immunity by secreting the effector TgIST into the host cell where it binds to STAT1, strengthens its DNA binding activity and recruits the Mi-2/NuRD complex to STAT1-responsive promoters. Here we investigated the impact of the host chromatin environment on parasite interference with IFN-γ-induced gene expression. Luciferase reporters under control of primary and secondary IFN-γ response promoters were only inhibited by T. gondii when they were stably integrated into the host genome but not when expressed from a plasmid vector. Absence of CpG islands upstream and/or downstream of the transcriptional start site allowed more vigorous up-regulation by IFN-γ as compared to CpG-rich promoters. Remarkably, it also favored parasite interference with IFN-γ-induced gene expression indicating that nucleosome occupancy at IFN-γ-responsive promoters is important. Promoter DNA of IFN-γ-responsive genes remained largely non-methylated in T. gondii-infected cells, and inhibition of DNA methylation did not impact parasite interference with host responses. IFN-γ up-regulated histone marks H4ac, H3K9ac, and H3K4me3 but down-regulated H3S10p at primary and secondary response promoters. Infection with T. gondii abolished histone modification, whereas total nuclear activities of histone acetyl transferases and histone deacetylases were not altered. Taken together, our study reveals a critical impact of the host chromatin landscape at IFN-γ-activated promoters on their inhibition by T. gondii with a comprehensive blockade of histone modifications at parasite-inactivated promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roswitha Nast
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tenzin Choepak
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carsten G K Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August-University, Göttingen, Germany
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9
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Wong ZS, Borrelli SLS, Coyne CC, Boyle JP. Cell type- and species-specific host responses to Toxoplasma gondii and its near relatives. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:423-431. [PMID: 32407716 PMCID: PMC8281328 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is remarkably unique in its ability to successfully infect vertebrate hosts from multiple phyla and can successfully infect most cells within these organisms. The infection outcome in each of these species is determined by the complex interaction between parasite and host genotype. As techniques to quantify global changes in cell function become more readily available and precise, new data are coming to light about how (i) different host cell types respond to parasitic infection and (ii) different parasite species impact the host. Here we focus on recent studies comparing the response to intracellular parasitism by different cell types and insights into understanding host-parasite interactions from comparative studies on T. gondii and its close extant relatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhee S Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sarah L Sokol Borrelli
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Carolyn C Coyne
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jon P Boyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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10
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Park J, Hunter CA. The role of macrophages in protective and pathological responses to Toxoplasma gondii. Parasite Immunol 2020; 42:e12712. [PMID: 32187690 DOI: 10.1111/pim.12712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability of Toxoplasma gondii to cause clinical disease in immune-competent and immune-deficient hosts coupled with its ease of use in vitro and availability of murine models has led to its use as a model organism to study how the immune system controls an intracellular infection. This article reviews the studies that established the role of the cytokine IFN-γ in the activation of macrophages to control T gondii and the events that lead to the mobilization and expansion of macrophage populations and their ability to limit parasite replication. Macrophages also have pro-inflammatory functions that promote protective NK and T-cell activities as well as regulatory properties that facilitate the resolution of inflammation. Nevertheless, while macrophages are important in determining the outcome of infection, T gondii has evolved mechanisms to subvert macrophage activation and can utilize their migratory activities to promote dissemination and these two properties underlie the ability of this parasite to persist and cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongho Park
- University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Kangwon National University College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science, Chuncheon, Korea
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11
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Duy PN, Thuy NT, Trang BK, Giang NH, Van NTH, Xuan NT. Regulation of NF-κB- and STAT1-mediated plasmacytoid dendritic cell functions by A20. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222697. [PMID: 31545817 PMCID: PMC6756537 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells involved in the induction of T cell-mediated adaptive immunity. Plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) originate from lymphoid precursors and produce type I interferons (IFNs) in response to pathogens. A20 is considered as a negative regulator of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways, in which Toxoplasma gondii- derived profilin (TgPRF) is a TLR11/12 ligand recognised by DCs to stimulate their maturation/activation. Little is known about contributions of A20 to changes in biological properties of pDCs. The present study, therefore, explored whether pDC functions are influenced by A20. To this end, bone marrow cells were isolated and cultured with Flt3L to attain CD8DCs, CD11bDCs and pDCs and followed by challenge with TgPRP in the presence or absence of A20 siRNA. Expression of maturation markers were analysed by flow cytometry, and secretion of inflammatory cytokines by ELISA, cell migration by a transwell migration assay and expression of signalling molecules by western blotting. As a result, treatment with A20 siRNA enhanced activations of IκB-α and STAT-1, leading to increases in expressions of maturation markers and cytokine productions as well as migration of TgPRP-treated pDCs, while mature CD11bDCs produced at higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6 only. In addition, functions of CD8DCs remained unaltered following A20 silencing. The effects of A20 on pDC maturation and activation were completely abolished by IKK inhibitor and partially blunted by fludarabine. In conclusion, the inhibitory effects of A20 on pDC functions are expected to affect the immune response in T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pham Ngoc Duy
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Trau Quy, Gia Lam, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thu Thuy
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Dong, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Bui Kieu Trang
- Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Hoang Giang
- Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thi Hong Van
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, VNU University of Science, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Nguyen Thi Xuan
- Institute of Genome Research, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Cau Giay, Ha Noi, Vietnam
- * E-mail:
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12
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Kobayashi K, Umeda K, Ihara F, Tanaka S, Yamagishi J, Suzuki Y, Nishikawa Y. Transcriptome analysis of the effect of C-C chemokine receptor 5 deficiency on cell response to Toxoplasma gondii in brain cells. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:705. [PMID: 31506064 PMCID: PMC6737708 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with Toxoplasma gondii is thought to damage the brain and be a risk factor for neurological and psychotic disorders. The immune response-participating chemokine system has recently been considered vital for brain cell signaling and neural functioning. Here, we investigated the effect of the deficiency of C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5), which is previously reported to be associated with T. gondii infection, on gene expression in the brain during T. gondii infection and the relationship between CCR5 and the inflammatory response against T. gondii infection in the brain. RESULTS We performed a genome-wide comprehensive analysis of brain cells from wild-type and CCR5-deficient mice. Mouse primary brain cells infected with T. gondii were subjected to RNA sequencing. The expression levels of some genes, especially in astrocytes and microglia, were altered by CCR5-deficiency during T. gondii infection, and the gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed an enhanced immune response in the brain cells. The expression levels of genes which were highly differentially expressed in vitro were also investigated in the mouse brains during the T. gondii infections. Among the genes tested, only Saa3 (serum amyloid A3) showed partly CCR5-dependent upregulation during the acute infection phase. However, analysis of the subacute phase showed that in addition to Saa3, Hmox1 may also contribute to the protection and/or pathology partly via the CCR5 pathway. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that CCR5 is involved in T. gondii infection in the brain where it contributes to inflammatory responses and parasite elimination. We suggest that the inflammatory response by glial cells through CCR5 might be associated with neurological injury during T. gondii infection to some extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Kobayashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kousuke Umeda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Ihara
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Sachi Tanaka
- Division of Animal Science, Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa, Nagano, Japan
| | - Junya Yamagishi
- Research Center for Zoonosis Control, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Graduate School of Frontier Science, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
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13
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Rommereim LM, Fox BA, Butler KL, Cantillana V, Taylor GA, Bzik DJ. Rhoptry and Dense Granule Secreted Effectors Regulate CD8 + T Cell Recognition of Toxoplasma gondii Infected Host Cells. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2104. [PMID: 31555296 PMCID: PMC6742963 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes rhoptry (ROP) and dense granule (GRA) effector proteins to evade host immune clearance mediated by interferon gamma (IFN-γ), immunity-related GTPase (IRG) effectors, and CD8+ T cells. Here, we investigated the role of parasite-secreted effectors in regulating host access to parasitophorous vacuole (PV) localized parasite antigens and their presentation to CD8+ T cells by the major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) pathway. Antigen presentation of PV localized parasite antigens by MHC-I was significantly increased in macrophages and/or dendritic cells infected with mutant parasites that lacked expression of secreted GRA (GRA2, GRA3, GRA4, GRA5, GRA7, GRA12) or ROP (ROP5, ROP18) effectors. The ability of various secreted GRA or ROP effectors to suppress antigen presentation by MHC-I was dependent on cell type, expression of IFN-γ, or host IRG effectors. The suppression of antigen presentation by ROP5, ROP18, and GRA7 correlated with a role for these molecules in preventing PV disruption by IFN-γ-activated host IRG effectors. However, GRA2 mediated suppression of antigen presentation was not correlated with PV disruption. In addition, the GRA2 antigen presentation phenotypes were strictly co-dependent on the expression of the GRA6 protein. These results show that MHC-I antigen presentation of PV localized parasite antigens was controlled by mechanisms that were dependent or independent of IRG effector mediated PV disruption. Our findings suggest that the GRA6 protein underpins an important mechanism that enhances CD8+ T cell recognition of parasite-infected cells with damaged or ruptured PV membranes. However, in intact PVs, parasite secreted effector proteins that associate with the PV membrane or the intravacuolar network membranes play important roles to actively suppress antigen presentation by MHC-I to reduce CD8+ T cell recognition and clearance of Toxoplasma gondii infected host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah M Rommereim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Barbara A Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Kiah L Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
| | - Viviana Cantillana
- Division of Geriatrics, Departments of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and Immunology, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Gregory A Taylor
- Division of Geriatrics, Departments of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, and Immunology, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States.,Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - David J Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, NH, United States
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14
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Poncet AF, Blanchard N, Marion S. Toxoplasma and Dendritic Cells: An Intimate Relationship That Deserves Further Scrutiny. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:870-886. [PMID: 31492624 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2019.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (Tg), an obligate intracellular parasite of the phylum Apicomplexa, infects a wide range of animals, including humans. A hallmark of Tg infection is the subversion of host responses, which is thought to favor parasite persistence and propagation to new hosts. Recently, a variety of parasite-secreted modulatory effectors have been uncovered in fibroblasts and macrophages, but the specific interplay between Tg and dendritic cells (DCs) is just beginning to emerge. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on Tg-DC interactions, including innate recognition, cytokine production, and antigen presentation, and discuss open questions regarding how Tg-secreted effectors may shape DC functions to perturb innate and adaptive immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs F Poncet
- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France
| | - Nicolas Blanchard
- Centre de Physiopathologie Toulouse Purpan (CPTP), Université de Toulouse, INSERM, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France. @inserm.fr
| | - Sabrina Marion
- Centre d'Infection et d'Immunité de Lille, Université de Lille, Inserm U1019, CNRS UMR 8204, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France. @pasteur-lille.fr
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15
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Toxoplasma gondii effector TgIST blocks type I interferon signaling to promote infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17480-17491. [PMID: 31413201 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1904637116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In contrast to the importance of type II interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in control of toxoplasmosis, the role of type I IFN is less clear. We demonstrate here that TgIST, a secreted effector previously implicated in blocking type II IFN-γ signaling, also blocked IFN-β responses by inhibiting STAT1/STAT2-mediated transcription in infected cells. Consistent with a role for type I IFN in cell intrinsic control, ∆Tgist mutants were more susceptible to growth inhibition by murine and human macrophages activated with IFN-β. Additionally, type I IFN was important for production of IFN-γ by natural killer (NK) cells and recruitment of inflammatory monocytes at the site of infection. Mice lacking type I IFN receptors (Ifnar1-/-) showed increased mortality following infection with wild-type parasites and decreased virulence of ∆Tgist parasites was restored in Ifnar1-/- mice. The findings highlight the importance of type I IFN in control of toxoplasmosis and illuminate a parasite mechanism to counteract the effects of both type I and II IFN-mediated host defenses.
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16
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Fox BA, Guevara RB, Rommereim LM, Falla A, Bellini V, Pètre G, Rak C, Cantillana V, Dubremetz JF, Cesbron-Delauw MF, Taylor GA, Mercier C, Bzik DJ. Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane-Associated Dense Granule Proteins Orchestrate Chronic Infection and GRA12 Underpins Resistance to Host Gamma Interferon. mBio 2019; 10:e00589-19. [PMID: 31266861 PMCID: PMC6606796 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00589-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii evades host immunity to establish a chronic infection. Here, we assessed the role of parasitophorous vacuole (PV) membrane (PVM)- and intravacuolar network (IVN) membrane-localized dense granule (GRA) proteins in the development of acute and chronic Toxoplasma infection. Deletion of PVM-associated GRA3, GRA7, GRA8, and GRA14 or IVN membrane-associated GRA2, GRA9, and GRA12 in the low-virulence type II Prugniaud (Pru) strain induced severe defects in the development of chronic-stage cysts in vivo without affecting the parasite growth rate or the ability to differentiate into cysts in vitro Acute virulence of the PruΔgra2, PruΔgra3, and PruΔgra4 mutants was reduced but not abolished. In contrast, the PruΔgra12 mutant was avirulent in mice and PruΔgra12 parasites failed to establish a chronic infection. High-virulence type I strain RHΔgra12 parasites also exhibited a major defect in acute virulence. In gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-activated macrophages, type I RHΔgra12 and type II PruΔgra12 parasites resisted the coating of the PVM with host immunity-related GTPases as effectively as the parental type I RHΔku80 and type II PruΔku80 strains, respectively. Despite this resistance, Δgra12 PVs ultimately succumbed to IFN-γ-activated host cell innate immunity. Our findings uncover a key role for GRA12 in mediating resistance to host IFN-γ and reveal that many other IVN membrane-associated GRA proteins, as well as PVM-localized GRA proteins, play important roles in establishing chronic infection.IMPORTANCEToxoplasma gondii cysts reactivate during immune deficiency and cause fatal encephalitis. Parasite molecules that coordinate the development of acute and chronic infection are poorly characterized. Here, we show that many intravacuolar network membrane and parasitophorous vacuole membrane-associated dense granule (GRA) proteins orchestrate the development of chronic cysts in vivo A subset of these GRA proteins also modulate acute virulence, and one protein that associates with the intravacuolar network membranes, namely GRA12, was identified as a major virulence factor required for parasite resistance to host gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Our results revealed that many parasitophorous vacuole membrane and intravacuolar network membrane-associated GRA proteins are essential for successful chronic infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara A Fox
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Rebekah B Guevara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Leah M Rommereim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Alejandra Falla
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Valeria Bellini
- Laboratoire Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité-Informatique, Mathématiques, Applications, Grenoble (TIMC-IMAG), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Graciane Pètre
- Laboratoire Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité-Informatique, Mathématiques, Applications, Grenoble (TIMC-IMAG), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Camille Rak
- Laboratoire Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité-Informatique, Mathématiques, Applications, Grenoble (TIMC-IMAG), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Viviana Cantillana
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jean-François Dubremetz
- Université Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5235, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-France Cesbron-Delauw
- Laboratoire Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité-Informatique, Mathématiques, Applications, Grenoble (TIMC-IMAG), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Gregory A Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Corinne Mercier
- Laboratoire Techniques de l'Ingénierie Médicale et de la Complexité-Informatique, Mathématiques, Applications, Grenoble (TIMC-IMAG), Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - David J Bzik
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
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17
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Alsaady I, Tedford E, Alsaad M, Bristow G, Kohli S, Murray M, Reeves M, Vijayabaskar MS, Clapcote SJ, Wastling J, McConkey GA. Downregulation of the Central Noradrenergic System by Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Infect Immun 2019; 87:e00789-18. [PMID: 30510101 PMCID: PMC6346129 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00789-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is associated with physiological effects in the host. Dysregulation of catecholamines in the central nervous system has previously been observed in chronically infected animals. In the study described here, the noradrenergic system was found to be suppressed with decreased levels of norepinephrine (NE) in brains of infected animals and in infected human and rat neural cells in vitro The mechanism responsible for the NE suppression was found to be downregulation of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) gene expression, encoding the enzyme that synthesizes norepinephrine from dopamine, with downregulation observed in vitro and in infected brain tissue, particularly in the dorsal locus coeruleus/pons region. The downregulation was sex specific, with males expressing reduced DBH mRNA levels whereas females were unchanged. Rather, DBH expression correlated with estrogen receptor in the female rat brains for this estrogen-regulated gene. DBH silencing was not a general response of neurons to infection, as human cytomegalovirus did not downregulate DBH expression. The noradrenergic-linked behaviors of sociability and arousal were altered in chronically infected animals, with a high correlation between DBH expression and infection intensity. A decrease in DBH expression in noradrenergic neurons can elevate dopamine levels, which provides a possible explanation for mixed observations of changes in this neurotransmitter with infection. Decreased NE is consistent with the loss of coordination and motor impairments associated with toxoplasmosis. Further, the altered norepinephrine synthesis observed here may, in part, explain behavioral effects of infection and associations with mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isra Alsaady
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Ellen Tedford
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Mohammad Alsaad
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Greg Bristow
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Shivali Kohli
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Murray
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, UCL Department of Virology, Division of Infection & Immunity, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Reeves
- Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, UCL Department of Virology, Division of Infection & Immunity, Royal Free Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - M S Vijayabaskar
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Steven J Clapcote
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Wastling
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Keele, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom
| | - Glenn A McConkey
- School of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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18
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Li JX, He JJ, Elsheikha HM, Chen D, Zhai BT, Zhu XQ, Yan HK. Toxoplasma gondii ROP17 inhibits the innate immune response of HEK293T cells to promote its survival. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:783-792. [PMID: 30675671 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06215-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii secretes a group of rhoptry-secreted kinases (ROPs), which play significant roles in promoting intracellular infection. T. gondii rhoptry organelle protein 17 (ROP17) is one of these important effector proteins. However, its role in modulating host cell response during infection remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal that ROP17 (genotype I) induces significant changes in the expression genes and transcription factors of host cells. HEK293T cells were transfected with PCMV-N-HA-ROP17 plasmid or empty control PCMV-N-HA plasmid. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 3138 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in PCMV-N-HA-ROP17-transfected HEK293T cells, including 1456 upregulated, 1682 downregulated DEGs. Also, 715 of the DEGs were transcription factors (TFs), including 423 downregulated TFs and 292 upregulated TFs. Most differentially expressed TFs, whether belong to signal transduction, cancer-related pathways or immune-related pathways, were downregulated in ROP17-expressing cells. ROP17 also decreased alternative splicing events in host cells, presumably via alteration of the expression of genes involved in the alternative splicing pathway. Taken together, our findings suggest a novel strategy whereby T. gondii ROP17 manipulates various cellular processes, including immune response through reprogramming host gene expression to promote its own colonization and survival in the infected host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Xi Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun-Jun He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Dan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin-Tao Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China.,Inner Mongolia Agriculture University, Hohhot, 010018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, 225009, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hai-Kuo Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
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19
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He C, Kong L, Puthiyakunnon S, Wei HX, Zhou LJ, Peng HJ. iTRAQ-based phosphoproteomic analysis reveals host cell's specific responses to Toxoplasma gondii at the phases of invasion and prior to egress. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2018; 1867:202-212. [PMID: 30576742 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphorylation plays a key role in host cell-T. gondii interaction. However, the phosphoproteome data of host cell at various phases of T. gondii infection has not been thoroughly described. In this study, we assessed the host phosphoproteome data with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method during the phases of T. gondii invasion (30 min post infection, PI) and prior to egress (28 h PI). Our iTRAQ analysis revealed a total of 665 phosphoproteins, among which the significantly regulated phosphoproteins in different between-group comparisons were further analyzed. Functional analysis of these significantly regulated phosphoproteins suggested that T. gondii modulated host cell processes through phosphorylation including cell cycle regulation, inducing apoptosis, blocking the synthesis of some inflammatory factors, mediating metabolism to support its proliferation at the infection phase prior to egress, and utilizing membrane and energy from host cell, reorganizing cytoskeleton to favor its invasion and PV formation at the phase of invasion. The phosphorylation level of Smad2, CTNNA1, and HSPB1 identified with western blot revealed a consistent trend of change with iTRAQ result. These newly identified and significantly regulated phosphoproteins from our phosphoproteome data may provide new clues to unravel the host cell's complex reaction against T. gondii infection and the interaction between the host cell and T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng He
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Immunity and Metabolism, Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ling Kong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Santhosh Puthiyakunnon
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hai-Xia Wei
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhou
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hong-Juan Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
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20
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Menard KL, Haskins BE, Colombo AP, Denkers EY. Toxoplasma gondii Manipulates Expression of Host Long Noncoding RNA during Intracellular Infection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15017. [PMID: 30301916 PMCID: PMC6177471 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) are non-protein-coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides that regulate gene expression. The field of transcriptomics is only beginning to understand the role of lncRNA in host defense. Little is known about the role of lncRNA in the response to infection by intracellular pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii. Using a microarray, we examined the differential expression of 35,923 lncRNAs and 24,881 mRNAs in mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages during infection with high- and low-virulence T. gondii strains. We found that 1,522 lncRNA molecules were differentially regulated during infection with the high-virulence Type I strain, versus 528 with the less-virulent Type II strain. Of these lncRNAs, 282 were co-regulated with a nearby or overlapping mRNA–including approximately 60 mRNAs with immune-related functions. We validated the microarray for 4 lncRNAs and 4 mRNAs using qRT-PCR. Using deletion strains of T. gondii, we found that the secretory kinase ROP16 controls upregulation of lncRNAs Csf1-lnc and Socs2-lnc, demonstrating that the parasite directly manipulates host lncRNA expression. Given the number of regulated lncRNAs and the magnitude of the expression changes, we hypothesize that these molecules constitute both an additional regulatory layer in the host response to infection and a target for manipulation by T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla L Menard
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | - Breanne E Haskins
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA
| | | | - Eric Y Denkers
- Department of Biology and Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131, USA.
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21
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Nast R, Staab J, Meyer T, Lüder CGK. Toxoplasma gondii stabilises tetrameric complexes of tyrosine-phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 and leads to its sustained and promiscuous DNA binding. Cell Microbiol 2018; 20:e12887. [PMID: 29968354 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects up to 30% of humans worldwide. It can lead to severe diseases particularly in individuals with immature or defective immune responses. Control of T. gondii relies on the IFN-γ-induced signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1) pathway. T. gondii, however, largely inactivates STAT1-mediated gene transcription by T. gondii inhibitor of STAT1-dependent transcription (TgIST), a parasite effector protein binding to STAT1. Here, we have analysed requirements of STAT1 to bind TgIST and characterised downstream effects on STAT1 signalling. TgIST bound to STAT1 dimers but more efficiently assembled with STAT1 tetramers, which are essential for effective IFN-γ responsiveness. Such binding was abrogated in N-terminal, but not C-terminal deletion mutants of STAT1. Furthermore, TgIST did not bind to the STAT1F77A substitution mutant that cannot form STAT1 tetramers, resulting in a complete unresponsiveness of parasite-infected STAT1F77A -expressing cells to IFN-γ. Remarkably, binding of TgIST considerably increased the affinity of the aberrant STAT1 tetramers for DNA consensus sequence binding motifs and even enabled binding to nonconsensus sequences. Consistent with the increased DNA binding, STAT1 from parasite-infected cells remained phosphorylated at Tyr701 and Ser727 and was retained within the nucleus in a DNA-bound state. The sustained and promiscuous binding activity particularly of STAT1 tetramers to unspecific DNA sites lacking a consensus STAT1-binding motif is an as yet unrecognised mechanism contributing to the defective IFN-γ-mediated signalling in T. gondii-infected cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roswitha Nast
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Julia Staab
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Carsten G K Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
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22
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Thome R, Bonfanti AP, Rasouli J, Mari ER, Zhang GX, Rostami A, Verinaud L. Chloroquine-treated dendritic cells require STAT1 signaling for their tolerogenic activity. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:1228-1234. [PMID: 29572810 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201747362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
MS and EAE are T cell-driven autoimmune diseases of the CNS where IL-17-producing Th17 cells promote damage and are pathogenic. Conversely, tolerogenic DCs induce Treg cells and suppress Th17 cells. Chloroquine (CQ) suppresses EAE through the modulation of DCs by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that STAT 1 is necessary for CQ-induced tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) to efficiently suppress EAE. We observed that CQ induces phosphorylation of STAT1 in DCs in vivo and in vitro. Genetic blockage of STAT1 abrogated the suppressive activity of CQ-treated DCs. Opposed to its WT counterparts, CQ-treated STAT1-/- BMDCs were unable to suppress Th17 cells and increased EAE severity. Our findings show that STAT1 is a major signaling pathway in CQ-induced tolDCs and may shed light on new therapeutic avenues for the induction of tolDCs in autoimmune diseases such as MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Thome
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil.,Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Amanda Pires Bonfanti
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Javad Rasouli
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Guang-Xian Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA
| | | | - Liana Verinaud
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, Brazil
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23
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Mahanta A, Ganguli P, Barah P, Sarkar RR, Sarmah N, Phukan S, Bora M, Baruah S. Integrative Approaches to Understand the Mastery in Manipulation of Host Cytokine Networks by Protozoan Parasites with Emphasis on Plasmodium and Leishmania Species. Front Immunol 2018. [PMID: 29527208 PMCID: PMC5829655 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Diseases by protozoan pathogens pose a significant public health concern, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries, where these are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Protozoan pathogens tend to establish chronic infections underscoring their competence at subversion of host immune processes, an important component of disease pathogenesis and of their virulence. Modulation of cytokine and chemokine levels, their crosstalks and downstream signaling pathways, and thereby influencing recruitment and activation of immune cells is crucial to immune evasion and subversion. Many protozoans are now known to secrete effector molecules that actively modulate host immune transcriptome and bring about alterations in host epigenome to alter cytokine levels and signaling. The complexity of multi-dimensional events during interaction of hosts and protozoan parasites ranges from microscopic molecular levels to macroscopic ecological and epidemiological levels that includes disrupting metabolic pathways, cell cycle (Toxoplasma and Theileria sp.), respiratory burst, and antigen presentation (Leishmania spp.) to manipulation of signaling hubs. This requires an integrative systems biology approach to combine the knowledge from all these levels to identify the complex mechanisms of protozoan evolution via immune escape during host-parasite coevolution. Considering the diversity of protozoan parasites, in this review, we have focused on Leishmania and Plasmodium infections. Along with the biological understanding, we further elucidate the current efforts in generating, integrating, and modeling of multi-dimensional data to explain the modulation of cytokine networks by these two protozoan parasites to achieve their persistence in host via immune escape during host-parasite coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anusree Mahanta
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India.,Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Bengaluru, India
| | - Piyali Ganguli
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-NCL Campus, Pune, India
| | - Pankaj Barah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Ram Rup Sarkar
- Chemical Engineering and Process Development, CSIR- National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-NCL Campus, Pune, India
| | - Neelanjana Sarmah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Saurav Phukan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Mayuri Bora
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Shashi Baruah
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
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24
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Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia: an inter-kingdom communication perspective. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2017; 29:311-8. [PMID: 27120002 DOI: 10.1097/qco.0000000000000265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The apicomplexan protozoan Toxoplasma gondii has a striking predilection for infecting the central nervous system and has been suggested as a risk factor for schizophrenia. Here, we address some of the mechanisms by which T. gondii achieves this by manipulating signaling pathways of the host brain cells. RECENT FINDINGS Recent years have brought notable progress in the understanding of how the opportunistic parasite T. gondii establishes a successful infection in mammalian brain by secreting effector molecules that manipulate multiple cell functions. Many pathways involved in this inter-kingdom signaling, such as dopaminergic, GABAergic and kynurenine pathways, also have key roles in the development of schizophrenia. More understanding of T. gondii-brain cell interaction holds the key to unlocking the mystery of T. gondii-mediated schizophrenia pathogenesis. SUMMARY T. gondii usurps a variety of host signaling pathways to ensure physiological adaptation, evasion of host immune defense systems, and efficient replication. A detailed knowledge of T. gondii signaling molecules involved in this cross-kingdom communication with host brain cells will probably provide novel means of pharmacologically manipulating host cellular pathways to promote efficient elimination of the parasite and may permit the development of new schizophrenia-modifying therapeutics.
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25
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Brasil TR, Freire-de-Lima CG, Morrot A, Vetö Arnholdt AC. Host- Toxoplasma gondii Coadaptation Leads to Fine Tuning of the Immune Response. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1080. [PMID: 28955329 PMCID: PMC5601305 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii has successfully developed strategies to evade host's immune response and reach immune privileged sites, which remains in a controlled environment inside quiescent tissue cysts. In this review, we will approach several known mechanisms used by the parasite to modulate mainly the murine immune system at its favor. In what follows, we review recent findings revealing interference of host's cell autonomous immunity and cell signaling, gene expression, apoptosis, and production of microbicide molecules such as nitric oxide and oxygen reactive species during parasite infection. Modulation of host's metalloproteinases of extracellular matrix is also discussed. These immune evasion strategies are determinant to parasite dissemination throughout the host taking advantage of cells from the immune system to reach brain and retina, crossing crucial hosts' barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Rigueti Brasil
- Laboratório de Biologia do Reconhecer, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Morrot
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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26
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Olias P, Etheridge RD, Zhang Y, Holtzman MJ, Sibley LD. Toxoplasma Effector Recruits the Mi-2/NuRD Complex to Repress STAT1 Transcription and Block IFN-γ-Dependent Gene Expression. Cell Host Microbe 2017; 20:72-82. [PMID: 27414498 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2016.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) is an essential mediator of host defense against intracellular pathogens, including the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. However, prior T. gondii infection blocks IFN-γ-dependent gene transcription, despite the downstream transcriptional activator STAT1 being activated and bound to cognate nuclear promoters. We identify the parasite effector that blocks STAT1-dependent transcription and show it is associated with recruitment of the Mi-2 nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex, a chromatin-modifying repressor. This secreted effector, toxoplasma inhibitor of STAT1-dependent transcription (TgIST), translocates to the host cell nucleus, where it recruits Mi-2/NuRD to STAT1-dependent promoters, resulting in altered chromatin and blocked transcription. TgIST is conserved across strains, underlying their shared ability to block IFN-γ-dependent transcription. TgIST deletion results in increased parasite clearance in IFN-γ-activated cells and reduced mouse virulence, which is restored in IFN-γ-receptor-deficient mice. These findings demonstrate the importance of both IFN-γ responses and the ability of pathogens to counteract these defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Olias
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ronald D Etheridge
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J Holtzman
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - L David Sibley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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27
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Neurophysiological Changes Induced by Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection. Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6020019. [PMID: 28513566 PMCID: PMC5488653 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the parasite Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most pervasive neurotropic pathogens in the world, the host-parasite interactions during CNS infection and the consequences of neurological infection are just beginning to be unraveled. The chronic stages of infection have been considered dormant, although several studies have found correlations of infection with an array of host behavioral changes. These may facilitate parasite transmission and impact neurological diseases. During infection, in addition to the presence of the parasites within neurons, host-mediated neuroimmune and hormonal responses to infection are also present. T. gondii induces numerous changes to host neurons during infection and globally alters host neurological signaling pathways, as discussed in this review. Understanding the neurophysiological changes in the host brain is imperative to understanding the parasitic mechanisms and to delineate the effects of this single-celled parasite on health and its contribution to neurological disease.
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28
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Mendes MT, Carvalho-Costa TM, da Silva MV, Anhê ACBM, Guimarães RM, da Costa TA, Ramirez LE, Rodrigues V, Oliveira CJF. Effect of the saliva from different triatomine species on the biology and immunity of TLR-4 ligand and Trypanosoma cruzi-stimulated dendritic cells. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:634. [PMID: 27938380 PMCID: PMC5148907 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1890-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triatomines are blood-sucking vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. During feeding, triatomines surpass the skin host response through biomolecules present in their saliva. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in the induction of the protection to aggressive agents, including blood-sucking arthropods. Here, we evaluated if salivary components of triatomines from different genera evade the host immunity by modulating the biology and the function of LPS- or T. cruzi-stimulated DCs. Methods Saliva of Panstrongylus lignarius, Meccus pallidipennis, Triatoma lecticularia and Rhodnius prolixus were obtained by dissection of salivary glands and the DCs were obtained from the differentiation of mouse bone marrow precursors. Results The differentiation of DCs was inhibited by saliva of all species tested. Saliva differentially inhibited the expression of MHC-II, CD40, CD80 and CD86 in LPS-matured DCs. Except for the saliva of R. prolixus, which induced IL-6 cytokine production, TNF-α, IL-12 and IL-6 were inhibited by the saliva of the other three tested species and IL-10 was increased in all of them. Saliva per se, also induced the production of IL-12, IL-6 and IL-10. Only the saliva of R. prolixus induced DCs apoptosis. The presence of PGE2 was not detected in the saliva of the four triatomines studied. Finally, T. cruzi invasion on DCs is enhanced by the presence of the triatomine saliva. Conclusions These results demonstrate that saliva from different triatomine species exhibit immunomodulatory effects on LPS and T. cruzi-stimulated DCs. These effects could be related to hematophagy and transmission of T. cruzi during feeding. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1890-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tays Mendes
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA.,Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Marcos Vinicius da Silva
- Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | | | - Rafaela Mano Guimarães
- Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Alvares da Costa
- Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Luis Eduardo Ramirez
- Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Virmondes Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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29
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STAT1 Signaling in Astrocytes Is Essential for Control of Infection in the Central Nervous System. mBio 2016; 7:mBio.01881-16. [PMID: 27834206 PMCID: PMC5101356 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01881-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The local production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is important to control Toxoplasma gondii in the brain, but the basis for these protective effects is not fully understood. The studies presented here reveal that the ability of IFN-γ to inhibit parasite replication in astrocytes in vitro is dependent on signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and that mice that specifically lack STAT1 in astrocytes are unable to limit parasite replication in the central nervous system (CNS). This susceptibility is associated with a loss of antimicrobial pathways and increased cyst formation in astrocytes. These results identify a critical role for astrocytes in limiting the replication of an important opportunistic pathogen. Astrocytes are the most numerous cell type in the brain, and they are activated in response to many types of neuroinflammation, but their function in the control of CNS-specific infection is unclear. The parasite Toxoplasma gondii is one of the few clinically relevant microorganisms that naturally infects astrocytes, and the studies presented here establish that the ability of astrocytes to inhibit parasite replication is essential for the local control of this opportunistic pathogen. Together, these studies establish a key role for astrocytes as effector cells and in the coordination of many aspects of the protective immune response that operates in the brain.
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30
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Motran CC, Ambrosio LF, Volpini X, Celias DP, Cervi L. Dendritic cells and parasites: from recognition and activation to immune response instruction. Semin Immunopathol 2016; 39:199-213. [DOI: 10.1007/s00281-016-0588-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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31
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Gay G, Braun L, Brenier-Pinchart MP, Vollaire J, Josserand V, Bertini RL, Varesano A, Touquet B, De Bock PJ, Coute Y, Tardieux I, Bougdour A, Hakimi MA. Toxoplasma gondii TgIST co-opts host chromatin repressors dampening STAT1-dependent gene regulation and IFN-γ-mediated host defenses. J Exp Med 2016; 213:1779-98. [PMID: 27503074 PMCID: PMC4995087 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20160340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
An early hallmark of Toxoplasma gondii infection is the rapid control of the parasite population by a potent multifaceted innate immune response that engages resident and homing immune cells along with pro- and counter-inflammatory cytokines. In this context, IFN-γ activates a variety of T. gondii-targeting activities in immune and nonimmune cells but can also contribute to host immune pathology. T. gondii has evolved mechanisms to timely counteract the host IFN-γ defenses by interfering with the transcription of IFN-γ-stimulated genes. We now have identified TgIST (T. gondii inhibitor of STAT1 transcriptional activity) as a critical molecular switch that is secreted by intracellular parasites and traffics to the host cell nucleus where it inhibits STAT1-dependent proinflammatory gene expression. We show that TgIST not only sequesters STAT1 on dedicated loci but also promotes shaping of a nonpermissive chromatin through its capacity to recruit the nucleosome remodeling deacetylase (NuRD) transcriptional repressor. We found that during mice acute infection, TgIST-deficient parasites are rapidly eliminated by the homing Gr1(+) inflammatory monocytes, thus highlighting the protective role of TgIST against IFN-γ-mediated killing. By uncovering TgIST functions, this study brings novel evidence on how T. gondii has devised a molecular weapon of choice to take control over a ubiquitous immune gene expression mechanism in metazoans, as a way to promote long-term parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Gay
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Laurence Braun
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Brenier-Pinchart
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Julien Vollaire
- IAB, OPTIMAL Small Animal Imaging Facility, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Rose-Laurence Bertini
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Aurélie Varesano
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Bastien Touquet
- IAB, Team Membrane and Cell Dynamics of Host-Parasite Interactions, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Pieter-Jan De Bock
- Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies de Grenoble-Laboratoire Biologie à Grande Échelle (BIG-BGE), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), INSERM, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Yohann Coute
- Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies de Grenoble-Laboratoire Biologie à Grande Échelle (BIG-BGE), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), INSERM, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Tardieux
- IAB, Team Membrane and Cell Dynamics of Host-Parasite Interactions, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Alexandre Bougdour
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
| | - Mohamed-Ali Hakimi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team Host-Pathogen Interactions and Immunity to Infection, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, F-38700 Grenoble, France
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Cohen SB, Smith NL, McDougal C, Pepper M, Shah S, Yap GS, Acha-Orbea H, Jiang A, Clausen BE, Rudd BD, Denkers EY. Beta-catenin signaling drives differentiation and proinflammatory function of IRF8-dependent dendritic cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 194:210-22. [PMID: 25416805 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1402453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Beta-catenin signaling has recently been tied to the emergence of tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs). In this article, we demonstrate a novel role for beta-catenin in directing DC subset development through IFN regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) activation. We found that splenic DC precursors express beta-catenin, and DCs from mice with CD11c-specific constitutive beta-catenin activation upregulated IRF8 through targeting of the Irf8 promoter, leading to in vivo expansion of IRF8-dependent CD8a+, plasmacytoid, and CD103+ CD11b2 DCs. beta-catenin–stabilized CD8a+ DCs secreted elevated IL-12 upon in vitro microbial stimulation, and pharmacological beta-catenin inhibition blocked this response in wild-type cells. Upon infections with Toxoplasma gondii and vaccinia virus, mice with stabilized DC beta-catenin displayed abnormally high Th1 and CD8+ T lymphocyte responses, respectively. Collectively, these results reveal a novel and unexpected function for beta-catenin in programming DC differentiation toward subsets that orchestrate proinflammatory immunity to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B Cohen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14867
| | - Norah L Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14867
| | - Courtney McDougal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14867
| | - Marion Pepper
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98101
| | - Suhagi Shah
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
| | - George S Yap
- Center for Immunity and Inflammation, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07101
| | - Hans Acha-Orbea
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lausanne, CH-1066 Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Aimin Jiang
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263
| | - Bjorn E Clausen
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Brian D Rudd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14867
| | - Eric Y Denkers
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY 14867
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Characterization of the Neospora caninum NcROP40 and NcROP2Fam-1 rhoptry proteins during the tachyzoite lytic cycle. Parasitology 2015; 143:97-113. [DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015001511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
SUMMARYVirulence factors from the ROP2-family have been extensively studied in Toxoplasma gondii, but in the closely related Neospora caninum only NcROP2Fam-1 has been partially characterized to date. NcROP40 is a member of this family and was found to be more abundantly expressed in virulent isolates. Both NcROP2Fam-1 and NcROP40 were evaluated as vaccine candidates and exerted a synergistic effect in terms of protection against vertical transmission in mouse models, which suggests that they may be relevant for parasite pathogenicity. NcROP40 is localized in the rhoptry bulbs of tachyzoites and bradyzoites, but in contrast to NcROP2Fam-1, the protein does not associate with the parasitophorous vacuole membrane due to the lack of arginine-rich amphipathic helix in its sequence. Similarly to NcROP2Fam-1, NcROP40 mRNA levels are highly increased during tachyzoite egress and invasion. However, NcROP40 up-regulation does not appear to be linked to the mechanisms triggering egress. In contrast to NcROP2Fam-1, phosphorylation of NcROP40 was not observed during egress. Besides, NcROP40 secretion into the host cell was not successfully detected by immunofluorescence techniques. These findings indicate that NcROP40 and NcROP2Fam-1 carry out different functions, and highlight the need to elucidate the role of NcROP40 within the lytic cycle and to explain its relative abundance in tachyzoites.
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34
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Lüder CGK, Sumpf K, Nast R. Releasing the Brake on IFN-γ Signaling on Infection. Trends Parasitol 2015; 31:456-459. [PMID: 26422772 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/13/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii effectively inhibits the responsiveness of its host cell to interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Using a genome-wide genetic screen, Beiting and colleagues have recently identified coactivators of the transcription factor STAT1 that can diminish this inhibitory effect. One of these coactivators, TLX, enhances type 1 helper (Th1) immune responses and restricts parasite replication during chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten G K Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Kristina Sumpf
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Roswitha Nast
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
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35
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Cheeseman K, Weitzman JB. Host–parasite interactions: an intimate epigenetic relationship. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1121-32. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Cheeseman
- Sorbonne Paris Cité Epigenetics and Cell Fate UMR 7216 CNRS Université Paris Diderot Paris France
| | - Jonathan B. Weitzman
- Sorbonne Paris Cité Epigenetics and Cell Fate UMR 7216 CNRS Université Paris Diderot Paris France
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36
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Leroux LP, Dasanayake D, Rommereim LM, Fox BA, Bzik DJ, Jardim A, Dzierszinski FS. Secreted Toxoplasma gondii molecules interfere with expression of MHC-II in interferon gamma-activated macrophages. Int J Parasitol 2015; 45:319-32. [PMID: 25720921 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The obligate intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii interferes with major histocompatibility complex class II antigen presentation to dampen host CD4(+) T cell responses. While it is known that T. gondii inhibits major histocompatibility complex class II gene transcription and expression in infected host cells, the mechanism of this host manipulation is unknown. Here, we show that soluble parasite proteins inhibit IFNγ-induced expression of major histocompatibility complex class II on the surface of the infected cell in a dose-dependent response that was abolished by protease treatment. Subcellular fractionation of T. gondii tachyzoites revealed that the major histocompatibility complex class II inhibitory activity co-partitioned with rhoptries and/or dense granules. However, parasite mutants deleted for single rhoptries or dense granules genes (ROP1, 4/7, 14, 16 and 18 or GRA 2-9 and 12 knock-out strains) retained the ability to inhibit expression of major histocompatibility complex class II. In addition, excreted/secreted antigens released by extracellular tachyzoites displayed immunomodulatory activity characterized by an inhibition of major histocompatibility complex class II expression, and reduced expression and release of TNFα by macrophages. Tandem MS analysis of parasite excreted/secreted antigens generated a list of T. gondii secreted proteins that may participate in major histocompatibility complex class II inhibition and the modulation of host immune functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis-Philippe Leroux
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; Centre for Host-Parasite Interaction, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Dayal Dasanayake
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; Centre for Host-Parasite Interaction, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
| | - Leah M Rommereim
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Borwell Research Building, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Barbara A Fox
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Borwell Research Building, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - David J Bzik
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Borwell Research Building, 1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
| | - Armando Jardim
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; Centre for Host-Parasite Interaction, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada.
| | - Florence S Dzierszinski
- Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Parasitology Building, 21,111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9, Canada; Carleton University Research Office, Dunton Tower, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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Mahmoud ME, Ui F, Salman D, Nishimura M, Nishikawa Y. Mechanisms of interferon-beta-induced inhibition ofToxoplasma gondiigrowth in murine macrophages and embryonic fibroblasts: role of immunity-related GTPase M1. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1069-83. [DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Motamed Elsayed Mahmoud
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases; Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Inada-cho Obihiro Hokkaido 080-8555 Japan
- Department of Animal Behavior; Management; Genetics and Breeding; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Sohag University; Sohag City Sohag 82524 Egypt
| | - Fumiki Ui
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases; Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Inada-cho Obihiro Hokkaido 080-8555 Japan
| | - Doaa Salman
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases; Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Inada-cho Obihiro Hokkaido 080-8555 Japan
- Department of Animal Medicine; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Sohag University; Sohag City Sohag 82524 Egypt
| | - Maki Nishimura
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases; Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Inada-cho Obihiro Hokkaido 080-8555 Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases; Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Inada-cho Obihiro Hokkaido 080-8555 Japan
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Sahu A, Kumar S, Sreenivasamurthy SK, Selvan LDN, Madugundu AK, Yelamanchi SD, Puttamallesh VN, Dey G, Anil AK, Srinivasan A, Mukherjee KK, Gowda H, Satishchandra P, Mahadevan A, Pandey A, Prasad TSK, Shankar SK. Host response profile of human brain proteome in toxoplasma encephalitis co-infected with HIV. Clin Proteomics 2014; 11:39. [PMID: 25404878 PMCID: PMC4232683 DOI: 10.1186/1559-0275-11-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Toxoplasma encephalitis is caused by the opportunistic protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Primary infection with T. gondii in immunocompetent individuals remains largely asymptomatic. In contrast, in immunocompromised individuals, reactivation of the parasite results in severe complications and mortality. Molecular changes at the protein level in the host central nervous system and proteins associated with pathogenesis of toxoplasma encephalitis are largely unexplored. We used a global quantitative proteomic strategy to identify differentially regulated proteins and affected molecular networks in the human host during T. gondii infection with HIV co-infection. Results We identified 3,496 proteins out of which 607 proteins were differentially expressed (≥1.5-fold) when frontal lobe of the brain from patients diagnosed with toxoplasma encephalitis was compared to control brain tissues. We validated differential expression of 3 proteins through immunohistochemistry, which was confirmed to be consistent with mass spectrometry analysis. Pathway analysis of differentially expressed proteins indicated deregulation of several pathways involved in antigen processing, immune response, neuronal growth, neurotransmitter transport and energy metabolism. Conclusions Global quantitative proteomic approach adopted in this study generated a comparative proteome profile of brain tissues from toxoplasma encephalitis patients co-infected with HIV. Differentially expressed proteins include previously reported and several new proteins in the context of T. gondii and HIV infection, which can be further investigated. Molecular pathways identified to be associated with the disease should enhance our understanding of pathogenesis in toxoplasma encephalitis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1559-0275-11-39) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apeksha Sahu
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Bioinformatics Centre, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014 India
| | - Satwant Kumar
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India
| | - Sreelakshmi K Sreenivasamurthy
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, 576104 India
| | - Lakshmi Dhevi N Selvan
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita University, Kollam, 690525 India
| | - Anil K Madugundu
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Bioinformatics Centre, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014 India
| | - Soujanya D Yelamanchi
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; School of Biotechnology, KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, 751024 India
| | | | - Gourav Dey
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, 576104 India
| | | | - Anand Srinivasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Kanchan K Mukherjee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, 160012 India
| | - Harsha Gowda
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India
| | | | - Anita Mahadevan
- Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029 India ; Human Brain Tissue Repository, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029 India
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 1205 USA ; Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA ; The Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205 USA
| | - Thottethodi Subrahmanya Keshava Prasad
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Technology Park, Bangalore, 560066 India ; Bioinformatics Centre, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014 India ; Manipal University, Madhav Nagar, Manipal, 576104 India ; Amrita School of Biotechnology, Amrita University, Kollam, 690525 India ; NIMHANS-IOB Proteomics and Bioinformatics Laboratory, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029 India
| | - Susarla Krishna Shankar
- Department of Neuropathology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029 India ; Human Brain Tissue Repository, Neurobiology Research Centre, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bangalore, 560029 India
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Stahl P, Ruppert V, Schwarz RT, Meyer T. Trypanosoma cruzi evades the protective role of interferon-gamma-signaling in parasite-infected cells. PLoS One 2014; 9:e110512. [PMID: 25340519 PMCID: PMC4207753 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is responsible for the zoonotic Chagas disease, a chronic and systemic infection in humans and warm-blooded animals typically leading to progressive dilated cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal manifestations. In the present study, we report that the transcription factor STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 1) reduces the susceptibility of human cells to infection with T. cruzi. Our in vitro data demonstrate that interferon -γ (IFNγ) pre-treatment causes T. cruzi-infected cells to enter an anti-parasitic state through the activation of the transcription factor STAT1. Whereas stimulation of STAT1-expressing cells with IFNγ significantly impaired intracellular replication of parasites, no protective effect of IFNγ was observed in STAT1-deficient U3A cells. The gene encoding indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (ido) was identified as a STAT1-regulated target gene engaged in parasite clearance. Exposure of cells to T. cruzi trypomastigotes in the absence of IFNγ resulted in both sustained tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of STAT1 and its increased DNA binding. Furthermore, we found that in response to T. cruzi the total amount of intracellular STAT1 increased in an infectious dose-dependent manner, both at the mRNA and protein level. While STAT1 activation is a potent strategy of the host in the fight against the invading pathogen, amastigotes replicating intracellularly antagonize this pathway by specifically promoting the dephosphorylation of STAT1 serine 727, thereby partially circumventing its protective effects. These findings point to the crucial role of the IFNγ/STAT1 signal pathway in the evolutionary combat between T. cruzi parasites and their host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Stahl
- Institut für Virologie, AG Parasitologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Volker Ruppert
- Klinik für Kardiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Ralph T. Schwarz
- Institut für Virologie, AG Parasitologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, UMR CNRS/USTL n° 8576, Université de Lille1 Sciences et Technologies, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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40
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Becerra-Díaz M, Terrazas LI. Taenia crassiceps infection and its excreted/secreted products inhibit STAT1 activation in response to IFN-γ. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:613-23. [PMID: 24837622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
It is well understood that helminth infections modulate the immune responses of their hosts but the mechanisms involved in this modulation are not fully known. Macrophages and dendritic cells appear to be consistently affected during this type of infection and are common target cells for helminth-derived molecules. In this report, we show that macrophages obtained from chronically Taenia crassiceps-infected mice displayed an impaired response to recombinant murine IFN-γ, but not to recombinant murine IL-4, as measured based on the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT6, respectively. These macrophages expressed high levels of SOCS3. However, the inhibition of phosphatase activity by orthovanadate restored the IFN-γ response of these macrophages by increasing STAT1 phosphorylation without affecting SOCS3 expression. Therefore, we aimed to identify the phosphatases associated with IFN-γ signaling inhibition and found that macrophages from T. crassiceps-infected mice displayed enhanced SHP-1 expression. Interestingly, the exposure of naïve macrophages to T. crassiceps excreted/secreted products similarly interfered with IFN-γ-induced STAT1 phosphorylation. Moreover, macrophages exposed to T. crassiceps excreted/secreted products expressed high levels of SOCS3 as well as SHP-1. Strikingly, human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were exposed to T. crassiceps excreted/secreted products in vitro also displayed impaired STAT1 phosphorylation in response to IFN-γ; again, phosphatase inhibition abrogated the T. crassiceps excreted/secreted product-altered IFN-γ signaling. These data demonstrate a new mechanism by which helminth infection and the products derived during this infection target intracellular pathways to block the response to inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ in both murine and human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireya Becerra-Díaz
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES)-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de Mexico 54090, Mexico
| | - Luis I Terrazas
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores (FES)-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Edo. de Mexico 54090, Mexico.
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Silmon de Monerri NC, Kim K. Pathogens hijack the epigenome: a new twist on host-pathogen interactions. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 184:897-911. [PMID: 24525150 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Revised: 12/01/2013] [Accepted: 12/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pathogens have evolved strategies to promote their survival by dramatically modifying the transcriptional profile and protein content of the host cells they infect. Modifications of the host transcriptome and proteome are mediated by pathogen-encoded effector molecules that modulate host cells through a variety of different mechanisms. Recent studies highlight the importance of the host chromatin and other epigenetic regulators as targets of pathogens. Host gene regulatory mechanisms may be targeted through cytoplasmic signaling, directly by pathogen effector proteins, and possibly by pathogen RNA. Although many of these changes are short-lived and persist only during the course of infection, several studies indicate that pathogens are able to induce long-term, heritable changes that are essential to pathogenesis of infectious diseases and persistence of pathogens within their hosts. In this review, we discuss how pathogens modulate the epigenome of host cells, a new and flourishing avenue of host-pathogen interaction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie C Silmon de Monerri
- Departments of Medicine, Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Kami Kim
- Departments of Medicine, Pathology, and Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
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Toxoplasma gondii Inhibits gamma interferon (IFN-γ)- and IFN-β-induced host cell STAT1 transcriptional activity by increasing the association of STAT1 with DNA. Infect Immun 2013; 82:706-19. [PMID: 24478085 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01291-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response, mediated by the STAT1 transcription factor, is crucial for host defense against the intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii, but prior infection with Toxoplasma can inhibit this response. Recently, it was reported that the Toxoplasma type II NTE strain prevents the recruitment of chromatin remodeling complexes containing Brahma-related gene 1 (BRG-1) to promoters of IFN-γ-induced secondary response genes such as Ciita and major histocompatibility complex class II genes in murine macrophages, thereby inhibiting their expression. We report here that a type I strain of Toxoplasma inhibits the expression of primary IFN-γ response genes such as IRF1 through a distinct mechanism not dependent on the activity of histone deacetylases. Instead, infection with a type I, II, or III strain of Toxoplasma inhibits the dissociation of STAT1 from DNA, preventing its recycling and further rounds of STAT1-mediated transcriptional activation. This leads to increased IFN-γ-induced binding of STAT1 at the IRF1 promoter in host cells and increased global IFN-γ-induced association of STAT1 with chromatin. Toxoplasma type I infection also inhibits IFN-β-induced interferon-stimulated gene factor 3-mediated gene expression, and this inhibition is also linked to increased association of STAT1 with chromatin. The secretion of proteins into the host cell by a type I strain of Toxoplasma without complete parasite invasion is not sufficient to block STAT1-mediated expression, suggesting that the effector protein responsible for this inhibition is not derived from the rhoptries.
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Mice infected with low-virulence strains of Toxoplasma gondii lose their innate aversion to cat urine, even after extensive parasite clearance. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75246. [PMID: 24058668 PMCID: PMC3776761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii chronic infection in rodent secondary hosts has been reported to lead to a loss of innate, hard-wired fear toward cats, its primary host. However the generality of this response across T. gondii strains and the underlying mechanism for this pathogen-mediated behavioral change remain unknown. To begin exploring these questions, we evaluated the effects of infection with two previously uninvestigated isolates from the three major North American clonal lineages of T. gondii, Type III and an attenuated strain of Type I. Using an hour-long open field activity assay optimized for this purpose, we measured mouse aversion toward predator and non-predator urines. We show that loss of innate aversion of cat urine is a general trait caused by infection with any of the three major clonal lineages of parasite. Surprisingly, we found that infection with the attenuated Type I parasite results in sustained loss of aversion at times post infection when neither parasite nor ongoing brain inflammation were detectable. This suggests that T. gondii-mediated interruption of mouse innate aversion toward cat urine may occur during early acute infection in a permanent manner, not requiring persistence of parasite cysts or continuing brain inflammation.
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