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phosphatidic acid-mediated signaling regulates microneme secretion in toxoplasma.the obligate intracellular lifestyle of apicomplexan parasites necessitates an invasive phase underpinned by timely and spatially controlled secretion of apical organelles termed micronemes. in toxoplasma gondii, extracellular potassium levels and other stimuli trigger a signaling cascade culminating in phosphoinositide-phospholipase c (plc) activation, which generates the second messengers diacylglycerol (dag) and ip3 and ultimately results in microneme secretion. here we show that a delicate b ...201626962945
spread and genotype of toxoplasma gondii in naturally infected alpine chamois (rupicapra r. rupicapra).the complex life cycle of toxoplasma gondii involves many animal species, raising zoonotic, economic, and conservation issues. this complexity is reflected in the molecular structure of t. gondii, whose different genotypes differ in pathogenicity. among the intermediate hosts of t. gondii, wild ungulates may be a source of human infection. despite intense hunting activity and the consumption of raw or undercooked meat, little information is available on the spread of t. gondii and the distributi ...201626960960
dextran sulfate inhibits acute toxoplama gondii infection in pigs.toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent protozoan that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. its definitive hosts are felidae and its intermediate hosts include various other mammals and birds, including pigs. it is found in the meat of livestock which is a major source of human infection. hence the control of toxoplasmosis in pigs is important for public health. we previously showed that dextran sulfate (ds), especially ds10 (dextran sulfate mw 10 kda), is effective against t. ...201626956033
serial dissection of parasite gene families.calcium ion signaling regulates central aspects of the biology controlling stage and life cycle transitions of apicomplexan parasites. in the current issue of infection and immunity, long and coworkers (s. long, q. wang, and l. d. sibley, infect immun 84:1262-1273, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/iai.01173-15) describe a powerful genetic system enabling reliable serial genetic dissection of a large gene family encoding novel calcium-dependent protein kinases (cdpks) that provides new insights in ...201626953326
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii in the iranian pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.toxoplasmosis is a common and serious parasitic disease with high prevalence and global distribution in human and other warm-blooded vertebrates. though the infection of toxoplasma gondii is usually asymptomatic in healthy people, it can lead to severe pathological effects to the fetus of infected women and immunocompromised patients. so pinpointing the risk factors and control procedures are of important works among these populations. in order to reach this goal, we conducted a systematic revie ...201626952970
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection among hiv/aids patients in eastern china.toxoplasmosis, a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite toxoplasma gondii, occurs throughout the world. human t. gondii infection is asymptomatic in 80% of the population; however, the infection is life-threatening and causes substantial neurologic damage in immunocompromised patients such as hiv-infected persons. the major purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of t. gondii infection in subjects infected with hiv/aids in eastern china. our findings show ...201626951986
afatinib reduces stat6 signaling of host arpe-19 cells infected with toxoplasma gondii.specific gene expressions of host cells by spontaneous stat6 phosphorylation are major strategy for the survival of intracellular toxoplasma gondii against parasiticidal events through stat1 phosphorylation by infection provoked ifn-γ. we determined the effects of small molecules of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (tkis) on the growth of t. gondii and on the relationship with stat1 and stat6 phosphorylation in arpe-19 cells. we counted the number of t. gondii rh tachyzoites per parasitophorous vacuol ...201626951976
a novel polyclonal antiserum against toxoplasma gondii sodium hydrogen exchanger 1.the sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (nhe1), which functions in maintaining the ratio of na(+) and h(+) ions, is widely distributed in cell plasma membranes. it plays a prominent role in ph balancing, cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. however, its exact subcellular location and biological functions in toxoplasma gondii are largely unclear. in this study, we cloned the c-terminal sequence of t. gondii nhe1 (tgnhe1) incorporating the c-terminal peptide of nhe1 (c-nhe1) into ...201626951975
isolation and genotyping of toxoplasma gondii strains in ovine aborted fetuses in khorasan razavi province, iran.toxoplasmosis is an important zoonotic disease that can cause abortion in humans and animals. the aim of this study was isolation and subsequent genotyping of toxoplasma gondii isolates in ovine aborted fetuses. during 2012-2013, 39 ovine aborted fetuses were collected from sheep flocks in khorasan razavi province, iran. the brain samples were screened for detection of the parasite dna by nested pcr. the positive brain samples were bioassayed in webster swiss mice. the serum samples of mice were ...201626951974
identification of novel o-linked glycosylated toxoplasma proteins by vicia villosa lectin chromatography.toxoplasma gondii maintains its intracellular life cycle using an extraordinary arsenal of parasite-specific organelles including the inner membrane complex (imc), rhoptries, micronemes, and dense granules. while these unique compartments play critical roles in pathogenesis, many of their protein constituents have yet to be identified. we exploited the vicia villosa lectin (vvl) to identify new glycosylated proteins that are present in these organelles. purification of vvl-binding proteins by le ...201626950937
prenatal and early postnatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis in a setting with no systematic screening in pregnancy.to determine the risk of congenital toxoplasmosis (ct) and provide early (pre- or postnatal) identification of cases of ct in the absence of systematic screening in pregnancy.i n the presented cross-sectional study, serological criteria were used to date toxoplasma gondii infection versus conception in 80 pregnant women with fetal abnormalities or referred to as suspected of acute infection, and in 16 women after delivery of symptomatic neonates. a combination of serological, molecular (qpcr), a ...201626945416
reactivation of ocular toxoplasmosis in non-hispanic persons, misiones province, argentina. 201627089308
acute myocarditis in an immunocompetent young man: don't forget toxoplasma gondii. 201627085128
behavioral abnormalities in a mouse model of chronic toxoplasmosis are associated with mag1 antibody levels and cyst burden.there is marked variation in the human response to toxoplasma gondii infection. epidemiological studies indicate associations between strain virulence and severity of toxoplasmosis. animal studies on the pathogenic effect of chronic infection focused on relatively avirulent strains (e.g. type ii) because they can easily establish latent infections in mice, defined by the presence of bradyzoite-containing cysts. to provide insight into virulent strain-related severity of human toxoplasmosis, we e ...201627124472
toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia: an inter-kingdom communication perspective.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.201627120002
parasitic zoonoses present some risks with low-temperature cooking of pork.a recent article in this journal documents enhanced sensory qualities of pork cooked to low temperatures. the aim of this letter is to point out that the incidence of trichinella spiralis in many countries and the more widespread incidence of toxoplasma gondii present a concern for the adoption of low temperature cooking of pork unless extended cooking times are used.201627115863
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii and direct genotyping using minisequencing in free-range pigs in burkina faso.swine are a major source of meat for humans. as such, they can play an important role in the epidemiology of human toxoplasmosis. therefore, we performed an epidemiological study to determine the prevalence and genotypes of toxoplasma gondii in burkina fasan swine.201627111796
nanostructural characterization of sf9 cells during virus-like particles generation.sf9 cells (a clonal isolate of spodoptera frugiperda sf21 cells) are commonly used to generate recombinant virus-like particles (vlps). for vlps generation, sf9 cells are infected with recombinant baculoviruses (rbv) expressing desired proteins. during rbv infections, sf9 cells have changes in cell diameters and surface structures. in this study, for the first time, we investigated nanostructural changes of sf9 cells using atomic force microscopy (afm) during vlps generation containing toxoplasm ...201627111226
cerebral complement c1q activation in chronic toxoplasma infection.exposure to the neurotropic parasite, toxoplasma gondii, causes significant brain and behavioral anomalies in humans and other mammals. understanding the cellular mechanisms of t. gondii-generated brain pathologies would aid the advancement of novel strategies to reduce disease. complement factor c1q is part of a classic immune pathway that functions peripherally to tag and remove infectious agents and cellular debris from circulation. in the developing and adult brain, c1q modifies neuronal arc ...201627109609
in silico and in vivo analysis of toxoplasma gondii epitopes by correlating survival data with peptide-mhc-i binding affinities.protein antigens comprising peptide motifs with high binding affinity to major histocompatibility complex class i (mhc-i) molecules are expected to induce a stronger cytotoxic t-lymphocyte response and thus provide better protection against infection with microorganisms where cytotoxic t-cells are the main effector arm of the immune system.201627109108
toxoplasma gondii: effects of diphenyl diselenide in experimental toxoplasmosis on biomarkers of cardiac function.this study aimed to investigate the effects of diphenyl diselenide (phse)2 to treat mice experimentally infected by toxoplasma gondii on seric biomarkers of cardiac function (creatine kinase, creatine kinase mb, troponin, and myoglobin), and lactate dehydrogenase, as well as to evaluate the enzymatic activity of creatine kinase (ck) and adenylate kinase (ak) in heart tissue. for the study, 40 female mice were divided into four groups of 10 animals each: the group a (uninfected and untreated), th ...201627107930
toxoplasmosis and alzheimer: can toxoplasma gondii really be introduced as a risk factor in etiology of alzheimer?alzheimer is a progressive neurological disease that results in irreversible loss of neurons and includes about two thirds of all cases of dementia. toxoplasma gondii may be an important infectious agent involved in neurodegenerative diseases. the aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between toxoplasma as an etiologic agent in the progress of alzheimer's disease. this case control study was conducted on 75 alzheimer's patients and 75 healthy volunteers. blood samples were obtaine ...201627106237
the gene expression level of ifn-γr1 and ifn-γr2 in a murine model treated with toxoplasma gondii and its products.to evaluate the effect of active t. gondii tachyzoites and its products on the gene expression level of ifn-γr1 and ifn-γr2 in a murine model.201627099672
effects of thymus vulgaris ethanolic extract on chronic toxoplasmosis in a mouse model.the current work was undertaken to investigate the potential effectiveness of thymus vulgaris ethanolic extract (tve) against toxoplasma gondii infection in chronic experimental toxoplasmosis. to evaluate prophylactic effects, mice received 500 mg/kg tve for 5 days before they were infected by an avirulent me49 t. gondii strain. to investigate the therapeutic effects of the extract postinfection, daily treatment with tve was initiated at 6 weeks postinfection and continued for 10 days. the follo ...201627098159
serological and molecular survey of toxoplasmosis in renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients in kashan and qom regions, central iran.toxoplasma gondii is one of the important opportunistic pathogen among solid-organ transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients (hd). this study was aimed to detect toxoplasmosis among 50 renal transplant recipients (rtr), 135 hd and 120 healthy individuals in two cities (kashan and qom) that located in the center of iran, from 2014 to 2015. serological detection (igg and igm antibodies) was performed among all individuals in case and control groups. molecular detection was performed on all i ...201627097530
use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons as a model for cerebral toxoplasmosis.toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite with approximately one-third of the worlds' population chronically infected. in chronically infected individuals, the parasite resides primarily in cysts within neurons in the central nervous system. the chronic infection in immunocompetent individuals has been considered to be asymptomatic but increasing evidence indicates the chronic infection can lead to neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, prenatal depression and suicidal thou ...201627083472
molecular diagnosis of toxoplasma gondii infection in libya.toxoplasma gondii infections are prevalent in humans and animals throughout libya. current diagnosis is based on detection of toxoplasma-specific igm and igg. in this study, we established and optimized a diagnostic pcr assay for molecular diagnosis of t. gondii in libya.201627083153
investigating the determinants of toxoplasma gondii prevalence in meat: a systematic review and meta-regression.toxoplasma gondii is one of the most widespread parasites in humans and can cause severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. however, its role in healthy people is probably under-appreciated. the complex epidemiology of this protozoan recognizes several infection routes but consumption of contaminated food is likely to be the predominant one. among food, consumption of raw and undercooked meat is a relevant route of transmission, but the role of different meat producing animal species and ...201627082633
association between toxoplasma gondii exposure and heart disease: a case-control study.the parasite toxoplasma gondii causes infections all around the world. infections with t. gondii are systemic and the parasite can persist in the heart muscle. very little is known about the impact of t. gondii on patients with heart disease. we determined the association between t. gondii exposure and patients suffering from heart diseases attending in a public hospital in durango, mexico; the association of t. gondii exposure with socio-demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics of ...201627081427
production of anti-sag1 igy antibody against toxoplasma gondii parasites and evaluation of antibody activity by elisa method.chicken egg yolk antibody, also known as immunoglobulin y (igy), is the predominant class of serum immunoglobulin in birds. igy has many advantages over mammalian antibodies, such as enhanced immunogenicity conserved mammalian proteins exhibited in birds due to their phylogenetic distance, non-invasive rapid, and economical collection system. however, there are limited studies about igy production against toxoplasma, which is a worldwide veterinary and public health problem. in this study, the p ...201627079459
seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii among turkeys on family farms in the state of northeastern brazil.the aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against toxoplasma gondii in turkeys and chickens on family farms in the semi-arid region of the state of pernambuco, brazil. in order to do so, 204 sera samples from turkeys were analyzed using the modified agglutination test (mat) and 322 sera samples from chickens were assessed using the immunofluorescence assay (ifa). twenty-eight properties contained turkeys and 23 of these properties also contained chickens. the r ...201627078666
bioinformatics analysis and expression of a novel protein rop48 in toxoplasma gondii.toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite, and can infect warmblooded animals and humans all over the world. in the past years, rop family genes encoding particular proteins of t. gondii had made a great contribution to toxoplasmosis. in this study, we used multiple bioinformatics approaches to predict the physical and chemical characteristics, transmembrane domain, epitope, and topological structure of the rhoptry protein 48 (rop48). the results indicated that rop48 p ...201627078655
towards a preventive strategy for toxoplasmosis: current trends, challenges, and future perspectives for vaccine development.with its facultative ability to induce various types of infection in its hosts, toxoplasma gondii remains a fascinating and enigmatic pathogen. as a parasite, despite its primitive unicellular structure, it possesses a highly sophisticated arsenal of invasive and defensive tools. toxoplasmosis has gained widespread significance as a zoonotic disease capable of inducing severe illnesses in humans and drastic economic losses in the veterinary field. although around a third of the world's populatio ...201627076296
the morphological analysis of autophagy in primary skeletal muscle cells infected with toxoplasma gondii.toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world. during the host immune response, tissue cysts are formed, allowing the maintenance of the parasite within the host cell. autophagy, a degradation process of cellular components, is critical for cellular homeostasis. recently, it has been proposed that autophagy participates in host-pathogen interactions. autophagic inducers (rapamycin or gluco ...201627075305
isolation and genotyping of toxoplasma gondii in seronegative urban rats and presence of antibodies in communicating dogs in brazil.the role of rodents in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis was investigated in londrina, paraná state, brazil. one hundred and eighty-one rattus rattus and one mus musculus were caught in 37 places. blood and tissues were collected and submitted to the indirect fluorescence antibody test (ifat) and the bioassay. serum samples from 61 contacting dogs were also collected. sixteen rats (8.8%) were positive for toxoplasma gondii, but just two of them were positive by serology and bioassay test. antibo ...201627074322
in vitro effect of the synthetic cal14.1a conotoxin, derived from conus californicus, on the human parasite toxoplasma gondii.toxins that are secreted by cone snails are small peptides that are used to treat several diseases. however, their effects on parasites with human and veterinary significance are unknown. toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic parasite that affects approximately 30% of the world's population and can be lethal in immunologically compromised individuals. the conventional treatment for this parasitic infection has remained the same since the 1950s, and its efficacy is limited to the acute phase of i ...201627070627
mouse model of congenital infection with a non-virulent toxoplasma gondii strain: vertical transmission, "sterile" fetal damage, or both?congenital transmission of toxoplasma gondii may occur if the mother gets infected for the first time while pregnant. the risk of mother-to-child transmission depends on the gestation trimester at infection, being lowest in the first and highest in the last. conversely, fetal damage is frequent and more severe at the beginning of pregnancy. the objective of this study was to evaluate congenital transmission and pathological aspects in the placenta and the fetus using a mouse model of congenital ...201627068784
outbreak of ovine congenital toxoplasmosis in iran, confirmed by different diagnostic methods.toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite with the capability to infect all warm-blooded animals. one of the great concerns is that it can lead to ovine abortion in sheep growing industry. different diagnostic methods such as serology, pathology, immunohistochemistry, bioassay and molecular detection have been used in order to detect ovine abortion associated with t. gondii. in this case, an outbreak of congenital toxoplasmosis based on serological, macroscopic, ...201627065616
unconventional endosome-like compartment and retromer complex in toxoplasma gondii govern parasite integrity and host infection.membrane trafficking pathways play critical roles in apicomplexa, a phylum of protozoan parasites that cause life-threatening diseases worldwide. here we report the first retromer-trafficking interactome in toxoplasma gondii. this retromer complex includes a trimer vps35-vps26-vps29 core complex that serves as a hub for the endosome-like compartment and parasite-specific proteins. conditional ablation of tgvps35 reveals that the retromer complex is crucial for the biogenesis of secretory organel ...201627064065
identification of toxoplasma tgph1, a pleckstrin homology domain-containing protein that binds to the phosphoinositide pi(3,5)p2.the phosphoinositide phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (pi(3,5)p2) plays crucial roles in the maintenance of lysosome/vacuole morphology, membrane trafficking and regulation of endolysosome-localized membrane channel activity. in toxoplasma gondii, we previously reported that pi(3,5)p2 is essential for parasite survival by controlling homeostasis of the apicoplast, a particular organelle of algal origin. here, by using a phosphoinositide pull-down assay, we identified tgph1 in toxoplasma a p ...201627063980
toxoplasma gondii: protective immunity induced by a dna vaccine expressing gra1 and mic3 against toxoplasmosis in balb/c mice.the intracellular parasite toxoplasma gondii is a major cause of abortion and neonatal loss in livestock, and can cause severe illness to human with weakened immune system. the heavy incidence and severe consequence indicate the development of vaccines against t. gondii is required. in this study, dna vaccines encoding gra1 and mic3 antigens were developed. the parasite-specific immune responses and protection efficiency against toxoplasmosis by these dna vaccines were evaluated in balb/c mice. ...201627059254
synergistic effects of resveratrol (free and inclusion complex) and sulfamethoxazole-trimetropim treatment on pathology, oxidant/antioxidant status and behavior of mice infected with toxoplasma gondii.this study aimed to investigate the synergistic effects of resveratrol and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (st) on the treatment of mice experimentally infected by toxoplasma gondii during the chronic phase of the disease considering infection, behavior, and oxidative/antioxidants profile aspects. for the study, 60 mice were initially divided into two groups: uninfected (n = 24) and infected by t. gondii (n = 36). these two groups were later subdivided into other groups and treated with resveratro ...201627057672
mif promotes classical activation and conversion of inflammatory ly6c(high) monocytes into tipdcs during murine toxoplasmosis.macrophage migration inhibitory factor (mif) mediates immunity against toxoplasma gondii infection by inducing inflammatory cytokines required to control the parasite replication. however, the role of this inflammatory mediator in the cell-mediated immune response against this infection is still poorly understood. here, we used t. gondii-infected wt and mif (-/-) mice to analyze the role of mif in the maturation of cd11b(+) and cd8α (+) dendritic cells (dcs). we found that mif promotes maturatio ...201627057101
epitope analysis and protection by a rop19 dna vaccine against toxoplasma gondii.we used bioinformatics approaches to identify b-cell and t-cell epitopes on the rop19 protein of toxoplasma gondii. then, we constructed plasmids with rop19 (pegfp-c1-rop19) and injected them into balb/c mice to test the immunoprotection induced by this vaccine candidate. the results showed that immunization with pegfp-c1-rop19 induced effective cellular and humoral immune responses in mice; specifically, high serum levels of t. gondii-specific igg and increased interferon-gamma production by sp ...201627055564
performance of polymerase chain reaction analysis of the amniotic fluid of pregnant women for diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.congenital infection caused by toxoplasma gondii can cause serious damage that can be diagnosed in utero or at birth, although most infants are asymptomatic at birth. prenatal diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis considerably improves the prognosis and outcome for infected infants. for this reason, an assay for the quick, sensitive, and safe diagnosis of fetal toxoplasmosis is desirable.201627055272
cns infections in patients with hematological disorders (including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation)-guidelines of the infectious diseases working party (agiho) of the german society of hematology and medical oncology (dgho).infections of the central nervous system (cns) are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients, but they do occur in a significant proportion of patients with hematological disorders. in particular, patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation carry a high risk for cns infections of up to 15%. fungi and toxoplasma gondii are the predominant causative agents. the diagnosis of cns infections is based on neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination and biopsy of su ...201627052648
clonal types of toxoplasma gondii among immune compromised and immune competent individuals in accra, ghana.there are three major clonal lineages, types i, ii, and iii, of toxoplasma gondii known to cause human toxoplasmosis worldwide. toxoplasma gondii infections have, however, not been genotyped in ghana. this study detected the clonal types infecting immune compromised and immune competent individuals in accra, ghana. blood samples were obtained from 148 hiv seropositive pre-antiretroviral therapy individuals (0 ≤ cd4(+) t-cell count/μl blood ≤ 200) at the fevers unit and 149 hiv seronegative appar ...201626775819
toxoplasma gondii infection and testosterone congruently increase tolerance of male rats for risk of reward forfeiture.decision making under risk involves balancing the potential of gaining rewards with the possibility of loss and/or punishment. tolerance to risk varies between individuals. understanding the biological basis of risk tolerance is pertinent because excessive tolerance contributes to adverse health and safety outcomes. yet, not much is known about biological factors mediating inter-individual variability in this regard. we investigate if latent toxoplasma gondii infection can cause risk tolerance. ...201626774464
tgf-β1 levels and intraocular tissue alterations in mice infected with a virulent type i rh toxoplasma gondii strain.toxoplasmosis is generally self-limiting in healthy adults but it may cause toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in cases of congenital infection leading to blindness. the importance of host genetics in determining disease severity in ocular toxoplasmosis has been shown in different inbred mouse strains using low-virulence toxoplasma strain. in this study, we studied intraocular immune response and tissue alterations in the genetically resistant balb/c and susceptible mf1 mice infected with a virulent ...201626773166
mixture of alum--naloxone and alum--naltrexone as a novel adjuvant elicits immune responses for toxoplasma gondii lysate antigen in balb /c mice.toxoplasma gondii (t. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite. treatment of the infection induced by this parasite is not straightforward due to the toxic side effects of the available drugs. vaccine development could be a solution to this problem. in the present study, t.gondii lysate antigen (tla), as a model vaccine, in combination with the alum-nlt (aluminum phosphate-naltrexone) and alum-nlx (aluminum phosphate-naloxone) were evaluated for immunization balb/c. 147 female balb/c mice w ...201626773164
molecular detection and genetic characterization of toxoplasma gondii infection in sika deer (cervus nippon) in china.the objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic characterization of toxoplasma gondii infection in sika deer in china. during august 2014 to november 2014, a total of 450 tissue samples coming from 150 sika deer were collected to detect the t. gondii b1 gene using a nested pcr, and the positive samples were genotyped at 11 genetic markers (sag1, 5'- and 3'-sag2, alternative sag2, sag3, btub, gra6, l358, pk1, c22-8, c29-2, and apico) using multilocus polymerase ch ...201626772153
cross-sectional serosurvey and risk factors associated with the presence of toxoplasma gondii antibodies in pigs in greece.toxoplasmosis is a worldwide reported zoonotic infection caused by the protozoon toxoplasma gondii. pigs may become infected by ingesting feed or water contaminated with cat faeces, by cannibalism, and/or by eating infected rodents. t. gondii infected edible tissues of pigs are a source of infection for humans. this study was undertaken to detect seropositivity of pigs against t. gondii and identify possible risk factors as well as to compare two serological methods.201626771899
toxoplasmosis in the caribbean islands: literature review, seroprevalence in pregnant women in ten countries, isolation of viable toxoplasma gondii from dogs from st. kitts, west indies with report of new t. gondii genetic types.little is currently known of clinical toxoplasmosis in humans and animals in the caribbean. we investigated the prevalence of igg and igm antibodies in 437 pregnant women from 10 english speaking caribbean countries. overall, antibodies (igg) to toxoplasma gondii (modified agglutination test, mat, cut-off 1:6) were found in 174 (39.8 %) of 437 human sera; specifically 12 of 38 from antigua-barbuda, 26 of 52 from belize, 9 of 50 from bermuda, 29 of 49 from dominica, 18 of 49 from grenada, 16 of 4 ...201626762861
the conoid associated motor myoh is indispensable for toxoplasma gondii entry and exit from host cells.many members of the phylum of apicomplexa have adopted an obligate intracellular life style and critically depend on active invasion and egress from the infected cells to complete their lytic cycle. toxoplasma gondii belongs to the coccidian subgroup of the apicomplexa, and as such, the invasive tachyzoite contains an organelle termed the conoid at its extreme apex. this motile organelle consists of a unique polymer of tubulin fibres and protrudes in both gliding and invading parasites. the clas ...201626760042
analysis of noncanonical calcium-dependent protein kinases in toxoplasma gondii by targeted gene deletion using crispr/cas9.calcium-dependent protein kinases (cdpks) are expanded in apicomplexan parasites, especially in toxoplasma gondii where 14 separate genes encoding these enzymes are found. although previous studies have shown that several cdpks play a role in controlling invasion, egress, and cell division in t. gondii, the roles of most of these genes are unexplored. here we developed a more efficient method for gene disruption using crispr (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/cas9 (crisp ...201626755159
toxoplasmic ventriculitis. 201626746327
estimating toxoplasma gondii exposure in arctic foxes (vulpes lagopus) while navigating the imperfect world of wildlife serology.although the protozoan parasite toxoplasma gondii is ubiquitous in birds and mammals worldwide, the full suite of hosts and transmission routes is not completely understood, especially in the arctic. toxoplasma gondii occurrence in humans and wildlife can be high in arctic regions, despite apparently limited opportunities for transmission of oocysts shed by felid definitive hosts. arctic foxes (vulpes lagopus) are under increasing anthropogenic and ecologic pressure, leading to population declin ...201626745833
phenotypic and genotypic characterization of two toxoplasma gondii isolates in free-range chickens from uberlândia, brazil.the aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range chickens from uberlândia, minas gerais state, brazil, and characterize the genotypic and phenotypic features of two isolates of this parasite, considering the importance of these hosts in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. serum samples from 108 free-range chickens were obtained from ten different districts, and submitted to the modified agglutination test (mat) for the presence of anti-t. gond ...201626743347
local admixture of amplified and diversified secreted pathogenesis determinants shapes mosaic toxoplasma gondii genomes.toxoplasma gondii is among the most prevalent parasites worldwide, infecting many wild and domestic animals and causing zoonotic infections in humans. t. gondii differs substantially in its broad distribution from closely related parasites that typically have narrow, specialized host ranges. to elucidate the genetic basis for these differences, we compared the genomes of 62 globally distributed t. gondii isolates to several closely related coccidian parasites. our findings reveal that tandem amp ...201626738725
immunity in the spleen and blood of mice immunized with irradiated toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.toxoplasma gondii infection induces a strong and long-lasting immune response that is able to prevent most reinfections but allows tissue cysts. irradiated, sterilized t. gondii tachyzoites are an interesting vaccine, and they induce immunity that is similar to infection, but without cysts. in this study, we evaluated the cellular immune response in the blood and spleen of mice immunized with this preparation by mouth (v.o.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) and analyzed the protection after challenge ...201626732075
pulmonary toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients with interstitial pneumonia: a single-centre prospective study assessing pcr-based diagnosis.pulmonary toxoplasmosis has become a very rare parasitic infection since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapies. it is generally diagnosed by the direct microscopic observation of toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (balf). the aim of this study was to assess possible improvements in diagnostic performance associated with the use of real-time pcr.201626729012
toxoplasmosis in geese and detection of two new atypical toxoplasma gondii strains from naturally infected canada geese (branta canadensis).wild birds are important in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis because they can serve as reservoir hosts, and vectors of zoonotic pathogens including toxoplasma gondii. canada goose (branta canadensis) is the most widespread geese in north america. little is known concerning t. gondii infection in both migratory, and local resident populations of canada geese. here, we evaluated the seroprevalence, isolation, and genetic characterization of viable t. gondii isolates from a migratory population of ...201626796021
development of ostrich thrombocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages in culture and the control of toxoplasma gondii reproduction after macrophage activation.raising ostriches became an important economic activity after their products became commodities. the health of farm animals is of paramount importance, so assessing basic immunological responses is necessary to better understand health problems. we developed a method to obtain ostrich thrombocytes and macrophages. the thrombocytes died by apoptosis after 48 h in culture, and the macrophages expanded in size and increased the number of acidic compartments. macrophages were activated by chicken in ...201626794839
risk factors related to toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in indoor-housed dutch dairy goats.toxoplasma gondii can cause disease in goats, but also has impact on human health through food-borne transmission. our aims were to determine the seroprevalence of t. gondii infection in indoor-housed dutch dairy goats and to identify the risk factors related to t. gondii seroprevalence. fifty-two out of ninety approached farmers with indoor-kept goats (58%) participated by answering a standardized questionnaire and contributing 32 goat blood samples each. serum samples were tested for t. gondii ...201626791753
world health organization estimates of the relative contributions of food to the burden of disease due to selected foodborne hazards: a structured expert elicitation.the foodborne disease burden epidemiology reference group (ferg) was established in 2007 by the world health organization (who) to estimate the global burden of foodborne diseases (fbds). this estimation is complicated because most of the hazards causing fbd are not transmitted solely by food; most have several potential exposure routes consisting of transmission from animals, by humans, and via environmental routes including water. this paper describes an expert elicitation study conducted by t ...201626784029
infection of male rats with toxoplasma gondii induces effort-aversion in a t-maze decision-making task.rats chronically infected with protozoan toxoplasma gondii exhibit greater delay aversion in an inter-temporal task. moreover t. gondii infection also results in dendritic atrophy of basolateral amygdala neurons. basolateral amygdala is reported to bias decision making towards greater effortful alternatives. in this context, we report that t. gondii increases effort aversion in infected male rats. this host-parasite association has been widely studied in the context of loss of innate fear in the ...201626783701
approaches for designing new potent inhibitors of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase.farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (fpps) catalyzes the condensation of isopentenyl diphosphate with dimethylallyl diphosphate to give rise to one molecule of geranyl diphosphate, which on a further reaction with another molecule of isopentenyl diphosphate forms the 15-carbon isoprenoid farnesyl diphosphate. this molecule is the obliged precursor for the biosynthesis of sterols, ubiquinones, dolichols, heme a, and prenylated proteins. the blockade of fpps prevents the synthesis of farnesyl diphosph ...201626781029
seroprevalence and associated risk factors of toxoplasma gondii infection in the korean, manchu, mongol and han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern china.a cross-sectional study was conducted from june 2013 to august 2015 to determine the seroprevalence and possible risk factors for human toxoplasma gondii infection in korean, manchu, mongol and han ethnic groups in eastern and northeastern china. a total of 1842 serum samples, including han (n = 802), korean (n = 520), manchu (n = 303) and mongol (n = 217) groups, were analysed using enzyme-linked immunoassays to detect igg and igm t. gondii antibodies. the overall t. gondii igg and igm seroprev ...201626833424
identification of new palmitoylated proteins in toxoplasma gondii.protein palmitoylation has been shown to be an important post-translational modification in eukaryotic cells. this modification alters the localization and/or the function of the targeted protein. in recent years, protein palmitoylation has risen in importance in apicomplexan parasites as well. in toxoplasma gondii, some proteins have been reported to be modified by palmitate. with the development of new techniques that allow the isolation of palmitoylated proteins, this significant post-transla ...201626825284
antibody detection and molecular characterization of toxoplasma gondii from bobcats (lynx rufus), domestic cats (felis catus), and wildlife from minnesota, usa.little is known of the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in minnesota. here, we evaluated toxoplasma gondii infection in 50 wild bobcats (lynx rufus) and 75 other animals on/near 10 cattle farms. antibodies to t. gondii were assayed in serum samples or tissue fluids by the modified agglutination test (mat, cut-off 1:25). twenty nine of 50 bobcats and 15 of 41 wildlife trapped on the vicinity of 10 farms and nine of 16 adult domestic cats (felis catus) and six of 14 domestic dogs resident on farms we ...201626824935
protective efficacy of pvax-ron5p against acute and chronic infections of toxoplasma gondii in balb/c mice.toxoplasma gondii can infect all the warm-blooded animals and humans and causes serious diseases especially in immuno-compromised patients and pregnant women. rhoptry neck proteins (rons) play an important role in the formation of moving junction, which mediates the invasion of this parasite. a recombinant plasmid pvax-ron5p, which can express part of ron5 protein in the eukaryocyte, was generated and used to immune balb/c mice for evaluating the protective efficacy against the acute and chronic ...201626821295
guanylate binding proteins directly attack toxoplasma gondii via supramolecular complexes.gbps are essential for immunity against intracellular pathogens, especially for toxoplasma gondii control. here, the molecular interactions of murine gbps (mgbp1/2/3/5/6), homo- and hetero-multimerization properties of mgbp2 and its function in parasite killing were investigated by mutational, multiparameter fluorescence image spectroscopy, and live cell microscopy methodologies. control of t. gondii replication by mgbp2 requires gtp hydrolysis and isoprenylation thus, enabling reversible oligom ...201626814575
bilateral maculopathy in a patient with ataxia telangiectasia.we report a case of toxoplasmosis with bilateral maculopathy in a 7-year-old boy diagnosed with ataxia telangiectasia (at) at age 6. at manifests as ataxia, apraxia, telangiectasia, and dysarthria. common ophthalmologic findings in at include fine conjunctival telangiectasia. patients also suffer from recurrent sinopulmonary infections; however, serious opportunistic infection is rarely diagnosed. at 8 years of age he developed disseminated toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis) infection and meningo ...201626917084
the diverse role of nk cells in immunity to toxoplasma gondii infection. 201626915066
coccidian parasites of fish encompass profound phylogenetic diversity and gave rise to each of the major parasitic groups in terrestrial vertebrates.fish are the oldest and most diverse group of vertebrates; it therefore stands to reason that fish may have been the original hosts for many types of extant vertebrate parasites. here, we sought to determine whether coccidian parasites of fish are especially diverse. we therefore sampled such parasites from thirty-nine species of fish and tested phylogenetic hypotheses concerning their relationships, using 18s rdna. we found compelling phylogenetic support for distinctions among at least four li ...201626911642
chronic infection with toxoplasma gondii induces death of submucosal enteric neurons and damage in the colonic mucosa of rats.intestinal epithelial secretion is coordinated by the submucosal plexus (smp). chemical mediators from smp regulate the immunobiological response and direct actions against infectious agents. toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. this study aimed to determine the effects of chronic infection with t. gondii on the morphometry of the mucosa and the submucosal enteric neurons in the proximal colon of rats. male adult rats were distributed into a control group (n = 10) ...201626902605
role of the 52 kda thioredoxin protein disulfide isomerase of toxoplasma gondii during infection to human cells.toxoplasma protein disulfide isomerase (pdi) is a 52 kda thioredoxin of interest because have a great immunogenicity for humans. we cloned and produced a recombinant protein (rectgpdi) used to test its effect during infection to different human cell lines (epithelial and retinal). we also determine if there were differences in gen expression during in vitro infection. expression of the gen was lower after entry into the host cells. pdi's inhibitors bacitracin and nitroblue tetrazolium reduced th ...201626896642
neurons are the primary target cell for the brain-tropic intracellular parasite toxoplasma gondii.toxoplasma gondii, a common brain-tropic parasite, is capable of infecting most nucleated cells, including astrocytes and neurons, in vitro. yet, in vivo, toxoplasma is primarily found in neurons. in vitro data showing that interferon-γ-stimulated astrocytes, but not neurons, clear intracellular parasites suggest that neurons alone are persistently infected in vivo because they lack the ability to clear intracellular parasites. here we test this theory by using a novel toxoplasma-mouse model cap ...201626895155
immune response: intracellular pathogens under attack.antimicrobial proteins deliver a double punch that can destroy the toxoplasma gondii parasite and its niche inside cells.201626894956
a new type of quinoxalinone derivatives affects viability, invasion, and intracellular growth of toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro.quinoxalinone derivatives, identified as vam2 compounds (7-nitroquinoxalin-2-ones), were evaluated against toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites of the rh strain. the vam2 compounds were previously synthesized based on the design obtained from an in silico prediction with the software tomocomd-cardd. from the ten vam2 drugs tested, several showed a deleterious effect on tachyzoites. however, vam2-2 showed the highest toxoplasmicidal activity generating a remarkable decrease in tachyzoite viability (in a ...201626888289
is toxoplasma gondii infection related to brain and behavior impairments in humans? evidence from a population-representative birth cohort.toxoplasma gondii (t. gondii) is a protozoan parasite present in around a third of the human population. infected individuals are commonly asymptomatic, though recent reports have suggested that infection might influence aspects of the host's behavior. in particular, toxoplasma infection has been linked to schizophrenia, suicide attempt, differences in aspects of personality and poorer neurocognitive performance. however, these studies are often conducted in clinical samples or convenience sampl ...201626886853
morbid attraction to leopard urine in toxoplasma-infected chimpanzees.parasites are sometimes capable of inducing phenotypic changes in their hosts to improve transmission [1]. toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that infects a broad range of warm-blooded species, is one example that supports the so-called 'parasite manipulation hypothesis': it induces modifications in rodents' olfactory preferences, converting an innate aversion for cat odor into attraction and probably favoring trophic transmission to feline species, its only definitive hosts [2]. in humans, t. gondi ...201626859275
tracing amino acid exchange during host-pathogen interaction by combined stable-isotope time-resolved raman spectral imaging.this study investigates the temporal and spatial interchange of the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine (phe) between human retinal pigment epithelial cell line (arpe-19) and tachyzoites of the apicomplexan protozoan parasite toxoplasma gondii (t. gondii). stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (silac) is combined with raman micro-spectroscopy to selectively monitor the incorporation of deuterium-labelled phe into proteins in individual live tachyzoites. our results show a very ra ...201626857158
prevalence, incidence estimations, and risk factors of toxoplasma gondii infection in germany: a representative, cross-sectional, serological study.representative data on the extent of endemicity, burden, and risk of human toxoplasmosis are scarce. we assessed the prevalence and determinants of seropositivity of toxoplasma gondii among adult participants of a nationwide representative cross-sectional survey in germany. sera collected from a representative cohort of adults (age 18-79; n = 6,663) in germany were tested for anti-t. gondii igg antibodies. interview-derived data were used to evaluate associated factors. multivariable logistic re ...201626936108
the antigen-specific response to toxoplasma gondii profilin, a tlr11/12 ligand, depends on its intrinsic adjuvant properties.agonists that activate toll-like receptors (tlr) are potential vaccine adjuvants. in particular, toxoplasma gondii profilin (tgprf) is recognized by tlr11/12 to generate an inflammatory response. unlike most tlr ligands, tgprf is also a protein and can therefore simultaneously induce innate and adaptive immune responses. we found that variations in the conformation of tgprf can affect its ability to induce a tlr11/12-dependent inflammatory response. the secreted recombinant t. gondii (s2-profili ...201626935827
the immunity-related gtpase irga6 dimerizes in a parallel head-to-head fashion.the immunity-related gtpases (irgs) constitute a powerful cell-autonomous resistance system against several intracellular pathogens. irga6 is a dynamin-like protein that oligomerizes at the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (pvm) of toxoplasma gondii leading to its vesiculation. based on a previous biochemical analysis, it has been proposed that the gtpase domains of irga6 dimerize in an antiparallel fashion during oligomerization.201626934976
serum albumin stimulates protein kinase g-dependent microneme secretion in toxoplasma gondii.microneme secretion is essential for motility, invasion, and egress in apicomplexan parasites. although previous studies indicate that ca(2+) and cgmp control microneme secretion, little is known about how these pathways are naturally activated. here we have developed genetically encoded indicators for ca(2+) and microneme secretion to better define the signaling pathways that regulate these processes in toxoplasma gondii we found that microneme secretion was triggered in vitro by exposure to a ...201626933037
chronic toxoplasma gondii infection enhances β-amyloid phagocytosis and clearance by recruited monocytes.alzheimer's disease (ad) is associated with the accumulation of β-amyloid (aβ) as senile plaques in the brain, thus leading to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment. plaque formation depends not merely on the amount of generated aβ peptides, but more importantly on their effective removal. chronic infections with neurotropic pathogens, most prominently the parasite toxoplasma (t.) gondii, are frequent in the elderly, and it has been suggested that the resulting neuroinflammation may influen ...201626984535
recombinant toxoplasma gondii phosphoglycerate mutase 2 confers protective immunity against toxoplasmosis in balb/c mice.toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses worldwide. it has a high incidence and can result in severe disease in humans and livestock. effective vaccines are needed to limit and prevent infection with toxoplasma gondii. in this study, we evaluated the immuno-protective efficacy of a recombinant toxoplasma gondii phosphoglycerate mutase 2 (rtgpgam 2) against t. gondii infection in balb/c mice. we report that the mice nasally immunised with rtgpgam 2 displayed significantly higher level ...201626984115
experimental ovine toxoplasmosis: influence of the gestational stage on the clinical course, lesion development and parasite distribution.the relation between gestational age and foetal death risk in ovine toxoplasmosis is already known, but the mechanisms involved are not yet clear. in order to study how the stage of gestation influences these mechanisms, pregnant sheep of the same age and genetic background were orally dosed with 50 oocysts of toxoplasma gondii (m4 isolate) at days 40 (g1), 90 (g2) and 120 (g3) of gestation. in each group, four animals were culled on the second, third and fourth week post infection (pi) in order ...201626983883
elevated toxoplasma gondii infection rates for retinas from eye banks, southern brazil.we found significantly higher incidence of toxoplasma gondii dna in eye bank specimens from joinville in southern brazil (13/15, 87%) than in são paulo (3/42, 7%; p = 2.1 × 10e-8). pcr dna sequence analysis was more sensitive at locus nts2 than at locus b1; a high frequency of mixed co-infections was detected.201626982526
anti-cd8 (sp57) rabbit monoclonal antibody is a useful tool for detecting toxoplasma gondii on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. 201626980035
oxidative stress generated during monensin treatment contributes to altered toxoplasma gondii mitochondrial function.the ionophore monensin displays potent activities against several coccidian parasites of veterinary and medical importance including the opportunistic pathogen of humans, toxoplasma gondii. while monensin is used widely in animals, toxicity impedes its use in humans. nonetheless, given its potency, understanding its mode of action would reveal vulnerable aspects of the parasite that can be exploited for drug development. we previously established that monensin induces toxoplasma to undergo cell ...201626976749
in vitro activity of sorghum bicolor extracts, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, against toxoplasma gondii.we investigated dried red leaf extracts of sorghum bicolor for activity against toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. s. bicolor red leaf extracts were obtained by bioassay-guided fractionation using ethanol and ethyl acetate as solvents. analysis of the crude and fractionated extracts from s. bicolor using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (esi-ms) showed that they contained significant amounts of apigeninidin, luteolinidin, 7-methoxyapigeninidin, 5-methoxyapigeninidin, 5-methoxyluteolinidin, ...201626855040
a systematic meta-analysis of toxoplasma gondii prevalence in food animals in the united states.toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed protozoan parasite. the centers for disease control and prevention reported that t. gondii is one of three pathogens (along with salmonella and listeria), that together account for >70% of all deaths due to foodborne illness in the united states. food animals are reservoirs for t. gondii and act as one of the sources for parasite transmission to humans. based on limited population-based data, the food and agriculture organization/world health organizatio ...201626854596
influence of toxoplasma gondii on in vitro proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma h7402 cell.to discuss the influence of tachyzoite of toxoplasma gondii (t. gondii) rh strain on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatoma carcinoma (hcc) h7402 cell.201626851789
gliding associated proteins play essential roles during the formation of the inner membrane complex of toxoplasma gondii.the inner membrane complex (imc) of apicomplexan parasites is a specialised structure localised beneath the parasite's plasma membrane, and is important for parasite stability and intracellular replication. furthermore, it serves as an anchor for the myosin a motor complex, termed the glideosome. while the role of this protein complex in parasite motility and host cell invasion has been well described, additional roles during the asexual life cycle are unknown. here, we demonstrate that core ele ...201626845335
induction of autophagy interferes the tachyzoite to bradyzoite transformation of toxoplasma gondii.autophagy process in toxoplasma gondii plays a vital role in regulating parasite survival or death. thus, once having an understanding of certain effects of autophagy on the transformation of tachyzoite to bradyzoite this will allow us to elucidate the function of autophagy during parasite development. herein, we used three tgatg proteins involved in atg8 conjugation system, tgatg3, tgatg7 and tgatg8 to evaluate the autophagy level in tachyzoite and bradyzoite of toxoplasma in vitro based on pru ...201626928609
effect of toxoplasma gondii infection on the junctional complex of retinal pigment epithelial cells.ocular toxoplasmosis is the most frequent cause of uveitis, leading to partial or total loss of vision, with the retina the main affected structure. the cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (rpe) play an important role in the physiology of the retina and formation of the blood-retinal barrier. several pathogens induce barrier dysfunction by altering tight junction (tj) integrity. here, we analysed the effect of infection by toxoplasma gondii on tj integrity in arpe-19 cells. loss of tj integr ...201626928468
toxoplasma gondii infection in pork produced in france.the aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of the toxoplasma gondii parasite in pork produced in france, and to determine infection risk factors. an innovative survey was designed based on annual numbers of slaughtered pigs from intensive and outdoor farms in france. a total of 1549 samples of cardiac fluids were collected from pig hearts to determine seroprevalence using a modified agglutination test. of those, 160 hearts were bio-assayed in mice to isolate live parasites. the overa ...201626928081
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