Genetic and biochemical analysis of development in Toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasma gondii has recently come under intense study as a model for intracellular parasitism because it has a number of properties that facilitate experimental manipulation. Attention is now being turned towards understanding the developmental biology of this complex parasite. The differentiation between the two asexual stages, the rapidly growing tachyzoites and the more slowly dividing, encysted bradyzoites, is of particular interest. Progression from the former to the latter is influenced by the host's immune response. This paper describes current progress on a number of research fronts, all aimed at understanding the triggers that push the tachyzoite-bradyzoite equilibrium in one or other direction and the changes that occur in gene expression (and ultimately metabolism and function). Chief among the techniques used for these studies are genetics and molecular genetics. Recent progress in these areas is described.
Boothroyd
J C
JC
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5402, USA. john.boothroyd@stanford.edu
Black
M
M
Bonnefoy
S
S
Hehl
A
A
Knoll
L J
LJ
Manger
I D
ID
Ortega-Barria
E
E
Tomavo
S
S
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000378:metabolism; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002686:Chitin / Q000378:metabolism; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003560:Cysts; D017125:Genes, Protozoan; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D016324:Sequence Tagged Sites; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D014970:Xanthines / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014970:Xanthines; D002686:Chitin; C054700:6-thioxanthine; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D000117:Acetylglucosamine