Anti-Toxoplasma gondii effect of tylosin in vitro and in vivo
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa. It can infect almost all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. In vitro study, we found tylosin significantly reduced the intracellular multiplication of T. gondii. Tylosin incubation altered several important metabolic pathways and cellular processes in T. gondii by transcriptomic analysis, with differentially expressed genes being notably enriched in the ribosome (KO03010) and ribosome synthesis pathway (KO03008). In vivo, tylosin, when given at a dose of 100 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, had a protective efficacy of 10% for RH-infected mice and 40% for ME49-infected mice, combined therapy with tylosin and sulfadiazine sodium greatly reduced the pathological damage in spleen, decreased the parasite load in animal tissues, and finally significantly raised the survival rate of infected mice.This study also offers insights into the development of anti-T. gondii chemicals with innovative modes of action.