Immune response to Toxoplasma gondii.
Oral-route infection with Toxoplasma gondii sporozoites or tachyzoites leads to the rapid spread of quick-replicating cytolytic tachyzoites throughout the whole body. Toxoplasma easily crosses the blood-retina, encephalic and placental barriers. The acute phase of this infection lasts for less than around ten days. The parasite causes a very strong type-1 response focused on the interferon-gamma secreted by the T lymphocytes. This immune response limits the tissue extension of the parasite, ensuring the survival of the host, but, paradoxically, also aiding the survival of the parasite by converting it into a bradyzoite, an intracellular quiescent resistant form persisting in the muscle and brain tissues.
Filisetti
Denis
D
Institut de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Tropicale, Strasbourg, France.
Candolfi
Ermanno
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000469:parasitology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D009132:Muscles / Q000469:parasitology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D007371:Interferon-gamma