[Advances in research of Toxoplasma gondii rhoptry protein ROP16]

ROP16 is one member of the rhoptrys protein family in Toxoplasma gondii. In its protein structure, there exists serine/threonine kinase domain, which is the important virulence factor in the invasion process of T. gondii. ROP16 can secretes into the nucleus of the host cells, and can phosphorylate the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3/6) and interfere the signal transduction pathway in the host cell. In this paper, the structure and function, as well as the immunogenicity of ROP16 are summarized.