Mucosal Immunity in Toxoplasma Gondii Infection

Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that frequently infects a large spectrum of warm-blooded animals. This parasite induces abortion and establishes both chronic and silent infections, particularly in the brain. Parasite penetration into the host activates a strong anti-parasite immune response. In the present paper, we will discuss the interplay between innate and adaptive immunity that occurs within the infected intestine to clear the parasite and to maintain intestinal homeostasis despite the exacerbation of an inflammatory immune response

MIF Participates in Toxoplasma gondii-Induced Pathology Following Oral Infection

BACKGROUND: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is essential for controlling parasite burden and survival in a model of systemic Toxoplasma gondii infection. Peroral T. gondii infection induces small intestine necrosis and death in susceptible hosts, and in many aspects resembles inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Considering the critical role of MIF in the pathogenesis of IBD, we hypothesized that MIF participates in the inflammatory response induced by oral infection with T. gondii. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Mif deficient (Mif(-/-)) and wild-type mice in the C57Bl/6 background were orally infected with T. gondii strain ME49. Mif(-/-) mice had reduced lethality, ileal inflammation and tissue damage despite of an increased intestinal parasite load compared to wt mice. Lack of MIF caused a reduction of TNF-α, IL-12, IFN-γ and IL-23 and an increased expression of IL-22 in ileal mucosa. Moreover, suppressed pro-inflammatory responses at the ileal mucosa observed in Mif(-/-) mice was not due to upregulation of IL-4, IL-10 or TGF-β. MIF also affected the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) but not MMP-2 in the intestine of infected mice. Signs of systemic inflammation including the increased concentrations of inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and liver damage were less pronounced in Mif(-/-) mice compared to wild-type mice. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, our data suggested that in susceptible hosts MIF controls T. gondii infection with the cost of increasing local and systemic inflammation, tissue damage and death

Intranasal immunization with SAG1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii in association with cholera toxin dramatically reduces development of cerebral cysts after oral infection

SAG1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii was evaluated as a protective antigen in mucosal immunization with cholera toxin as an adjuvant. CBA/J mice intranasally immunized with a combination of SAG1 and cholera toxin exhibited significantly fewer cysts in the brain after oral infection with the 76K strain of T. gondii than control mice. This acquired protection lasted at least 5 months. Protected mice developed high levels of serum anti-SAG1 immunoglobulin G antibodies as well as an enhanced systemic cellular response, as assessed by the proliferation of splenocytes in response to SAG1 restimulation in vitro. This cellular proliferation was associated with an increase of interleukin-2 and interleukin-5 synthesis and with barely detectable gamma interferon production. Splenic immune T cells were shown to convey modest protection to recipients against development of brain cysts following oral infection with T. gondii. Significant production of anti-SAG1 immunoglobulin A was induced in intestinal secretions of protected mice. These results indicate that intranasal immunization with SAG1 and cholera toxin can induce mucosal and systemic immune responses and affords partial and long-lasting resistance against the establishment of chronic toxoplasmosis.</jats:p

Intranasal immunization with SAG1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii in association with cholera toxin dramatically reduces development of cerebral cysts after oral infection.

SAG1 protein of Toxoplasma gondii was evaluated as a protective antigen in mucosal immunization with cholera toxin as an adjuvant. CBA/J mice intranasally immunized with a combination of SAG1 and cholera toxin exhibited significantly fewer cysts in the brain after oral infection with the 76K strain of T. gondii than control mice. This acquired protection lasted at least 5 months. Protected mice developed high levels of serum anti-SAG1 immunoglobulin G antibodies as well as an enhanced systemic cellular response, as assessed by the proliferation of splenocytes in response to SAG1 restimulation in vitro. This cellular proliferation was associated with an increase of interleukin-2 and interleukin-5 synthesis and with barely detectable gamma interferon production. Splenic immune T cells were shown to convey modest protection to recipients against development of brain cysts following oral infection with T. gondii. Significant production of anti-SAG1 immunoglobulin A was induced in intestinal secretions of protected mice. These results indicate that intranasal immunization with SAG1 and cholera toxin can induce mucosal and systemic immune responses and affords partial and long-lasting resistance against the establishment of chronic toxoplasmosis

Identification by Western blots of virulence specific antigens of Chlamydia psittaci isolated from ewes

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