Toxoplasma: Immunity and Pathogenesis

Toxoplasma gondii infection induces a strong immunity in the host. Although the response is manifested by innate response during early infection, adaptive immunity is critical for long-term protection. Amongst the adaptive immune response CD4 T cells play an important helper role for CD8 T cells which are the primary effector cells responsible for controlling the infection. Notwithstanding the induction of robust CD8 T immunity during acute infection, the parasite is not eradicated. One of the reasons for this is the functional exhaustion of CD8 T cells during latent infection. Recent studies from our laboratory have reported that primary cause of CD8 T cell exhaustion is compromised CD4 T cell help during latent toxoplasmosis. CD8 T cell dysfunctionality is preceded by CD4 exhaustion and effector immunity is severely compromised.