title: Generation of parasite cysts in cultured cells instead of living animals.
abstract: In order to develop any effective means of prevention or therapy against Neospora caninum infection, all three life cycle stages of this parasite have to be taken into account. In this project, the in vitro culture of N. caninum bradyzoites containing tissue cysts has been developed, thus allowing to the initiation of stage conversion without the use of animal experimentation. This enables researchers to study novel aspects of stage differentiation, to investigate novel diagnostic antigens, and explore the usefulness of potentially interesting drugs and drug targets not only in tachyzoites but also in bradyzoites.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. andrew.hemphill@ipa.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemphill
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D002460:Cell Line / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D006041:Goats; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D018688:Neospora / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology