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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 4, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Published on: December 9, 2014

Transepithelial migration by Toxoplasma.

Antonio Barragan¹, Niclas Hitziger

¹Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control and Center for Infectious Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden. antonio.barragan@ki.se

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry

|June 3, 2008

Summary

Toxoplasma gondii invades host biological barriers like the gut and brain, spreading rapidly. Understanding parasite migration mechanisms is key to finding new treatments for toxoplasmosis.

Area of Science:

Parasitology
Infectious Diseases
Cell Biology

Background:

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are characterized by parasite passage across biological barriers.
These barriers include the intestine, blood-brain barrier, blood-retina barrier, and placenta.
Barrier traversal enables parasite dissemination and access to vital organs during infection or disease reactivation.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the mechanisms by which T. gondii traverses biological barriers.
To identify parasite factors and host interactions involved in migration.
To uncover potential virulence factors and therapeutic targets for toxoplasmosis.

Main Methods:

Analysis of parasite motility and host cell interactions.
Investigation of parasite adhesins and host cell receptors.

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Last Updated: Jul 4, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

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A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants

A Genetic Screen to Isolate Toxoplasma gondii Host-cell Egress Mutants

Published on: February 8, 2012

Transnuclear Mice with Pre-defined T Cell Receptor Specificities Against Toxoplasma gondii Obtained Via SCNT

Transnuclear Mice with Pre-defined T Cell Receptor Specificities Against Toxoplasma gondii Obtained Via SCNT

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Exploration of leukocyte-mediated parasite dissemination (Trojan horse mechanism).

Main Results:

T. gondii actively moves across cellular barriers.
Specific interactions between parasite adhesins and host receptors facilitate paracellular transfer.
Migrating leukocytes can serve as vehicles for parasite dissemination, aiding immune evasion.

Conclusions:

Toxoplasma's interaction with biological barriers is critical for human toxoplasmosis.
Understanding parasite migration determinants can reveal virulence factors.
Elucidation of these processes may lead to novel therapeutic strategies against T. gondii infections.