Impact of Toxoplasma gondii infection on human health

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent infectious disease around the globe and it is caused by the parasite named Toxoplasma gondii. Infections normally lead to asymptomatic parasite persistence in immunocompetent warm-blooded hosts, including up to 30-50% of humans. However, T. gondii infection has also a major medical concern and can lead to life-threatening diseases, after reactivation in immunocompromized individuals, particularly in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/cancer or organ transplant recipients, after vertical transmission to fetuses of pregnant women and by inducing recurrent uveitis in immunocompetent adults. More importantly, T. gondii undergoes stage conversion from its fast-replicating tachyzoite to slow replicating dormant bradyzoite preferentially in the brain and skeletal muscles, and lesser extent in the eye, liver, kidney and lung which enable the parasite to persist for the whole life of an individual. Due to the persistence behavior of the parasite in different parts of human body, T. gondii can develop multiple human diseases with severe clinical symptoms. In this study, we have summarized the association of T. gondii in multiple human diseases for instance Encephalitis, Parkinson’s disease, Schizophrenia, Heart disease, Ocular Toxoplasmosis, Congenital abnormalities, Cancer and Diabetes. This highlights the potential role of T. gondii in developing fatal diseases, particularly in immunocompromised individuals despite having asymptomatic nature of the parasite. Bioresearch Commu. 8(1): 1093-1099, 2022 (January)

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Interleukin-17/Interleukin-17 Receptor-Mediated Signaling Is Important for Generation of an Optimal Polymorphonuclear Response against Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.73.1.617-621.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 617-621 ◽

Cited By ~ 244

Author(s):

Michelle N. Kelly ◽

Jay K. Kolls ◽

Kyle Happel ◽

Joseph D. Schwartzman ◽

Paul Schwarzenberger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Adaptive Immunity ◽

Protective Immunity ◽

Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes ◽

Early Infection ◽

Interleukin 17 ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Knockout Animals

ABSTRACT We investigated the role of interleukin-17 (IL-17)/IL-17 receptor (IL-17R)-mediated signaling in the protective immunity against Toxoplasma gondii. IL-17R−/− mice developed a normal adaptive immunity against the parasite. However, increased mortality in the knockout animals can be attributed to a defect in the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to infected sites during early infection.

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Is Toxoplasma gondii Infection a Cause or a Coincidence in an Adolescent with Psychosis?

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716864 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hüsniye Yucel ◽

Burak Acikel ◽

F Nur Öz ◽

Saliha Senel

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Current Level ◽

Neuropsychiatric Diseases ◽

New Knowledge ◽

Young Adolescent Girl ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽

Psychiatric Problems ◽

Immunocompetent Patients

AbstractAlthough presumed to be relatively harmless in immunocompetent patients, toxoplasmosis has been linked to several psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and suicidal/aggressive behaviors. We describe an 11-year-old young adolescent girl with psychoses who was ultimately diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. It is an unusual presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection that adds new knowledge to the current level of literature about the substantial role of Toxoplasma gondii in the etiology of neuropsychiatric diseases. We propose that screening for toxoplasmosis is needed besides other etiologies in differential diagnosis of psychiatric symptoms particularly in endemic areas.

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The Diverse Role of NK Cells in Immunity to Toxoplasma gondii Infection

PLoS Pathogens ◽

10.1371/journal.ppat.1005396 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. e1005396 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jason P. Gigley

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathophysiology of Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Journal of Comparative Pathology ◽

10.1016/j.jcpa.2015.10.039 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 154 (1) ◽

pp. 74

Author(s):

G.C. Dincel ◽

H.T. Atmaca

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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Possible Critical Role of Latent Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Triggering, Development and Persistence of Autoimmune Diseases

International Journal of Neurology Research ◽

10.17554/j.issn.2313-5611.2018.04.79 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 379-463

Author(s):

Joseph Prandota ◽

◽

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

Critical Role ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

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The Role of Tim-3 on dNK Cells Dysfunction During Abnormal Pregnancy With Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fcimb.2021.587150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Teng Li ◽

Lijun Cui ◽

Xiaoyan Xu ◽

Haixia Zhang ◽

Yuzhu Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Mechanism Analysis ◽

Abnormal Pregnancy ◽

Inhibitory Molecule ◽

Pregnant Mice ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection during gestation can result in severe complications such as abortion, congenital malformation, fetal teratogenesis, etc. Immune inhibitory molecule Tim-3 was discovered to be expressed on some decidual immune cells and participates in the maintenance of maternal-fetal tolerance. Dysregulation of Tim-3 expression on decidual NK (dNK) cells was observed in several cases of pregnancy complications, whereas the role of Tim-3 on dNK cells during T. gondii infection remains unclear. In the present study, T. gondii infected Tim-3-/- pregnant mice, and anti-Tim-3 neutralizing antibody treated and infected human dNK cells were successfully established to explore the role of Tim-3 in dysfunction of dNK cells during abnormal pregnancy. Our results illustrated that Tim-3-/- pregnant mice displayed more worse pregnancy outcomes with T. gondii infection compared to infected WT pregnant mice. Also, it demonstrated that Tim-3 expression on dNK cells was significantly down-regulated following T. gondii infection. Data suggested a remarkable activation of dNK cells in Tim-3-/- mice and anti-Tim-3 neutralizing antibody treated and infected groups, with higher ratios of activating receptor NKG2D to inhibitory receptor NKG2A or KIR2DL4, IFN-γ/IL-10, and increased granule production compared with that of the infected group. Mechanism analysis proved that T. gondii-induced Tim-3 down-regulation significantly activated the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT and JAK-STAT signaling pathway, by which the GranzymeB, Perforin, IFN-γ, and IL-10 production were further up-regulated. Our research demonstrated that the decrease of Tim-3 on dNK cells caused by T. gondii infection further led to dNK cells function disorder, which finally contributed to the development of abnormal pregnancy outcomes.

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P0384PROTEINURIA SELECTIVITY INDEX MAY PREDICT RITUXIMAB RESPONSE IN MCD AND FSGS

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation ◽

10.1093/ndt/gfaa142.p0384 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

Marco Allinovi ◽

Giorgio Trivioli ◽

Gianmarco Lugli ◽

Leonardo Caroti ◽

Giulia Antognoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Symptoms ◽

Substantial Improvement ◽

Selectivity Index ◽

Free Survival ◽

Randomized Controlled Studies ◽

Steroid Dependent ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Baseline Characteristics ◽

Steroid Responsiveness

Abstract Background and Aims Proteinuria selectivity index (PSI) predicts steroid responsiveness in minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, has increasingly recognized as a potential therapy of idiopathic podocytopathies, such as MCD and FSGS, although the mechanism of action is still unrecognized and randomized controlled studies are still lacking. Currently, no tools are available to predict responsiveness to RTX. We explored the role of PSI as a potential predictor of RTX responsiveness in MCD and FSGS. Method We analysed cases of biopsy-proven MCD and FSGS followed at one single centre, who received RTX therapy. Baseline data, including proteinuria and PSI, were collected. Proteinuria was considered selective with PSI (clearance of urinary IgG/transferrin ratio) <0.20. Complete remission (CR) was resolution of proteinuria and clinical symptoms, while partial remission (PR) was proteinuria decrease (>50%) and substantial improvement of clinical symptoms. Results RTX was administered to 14 patients with MCD and 16 patients with FSGS and, of them, PSI was available before treatment for 10 and 14 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1. Among the 24 cases with available PSI, CR was reported in 12 and PR in 5, while 9 did not respond to RTX. All patients who achieved CR and PR had selective proteinuria at baseline, while all patients with PSI >0.20 did not respond to RTX (Figure 2). Median relapse-free survival was 25.4 months. Among responders, in 10 out of 19 patients (53%) the relapse occurred between 4 and 60 months from initial treatment. No potentially life-threatening adverse events have been observed. Conclusion Selective proteinuria before treatment can predict the response to RTX in adult patients with steroid-dependent and refractory forms of MCD and FSGS.

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