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Updated: Jan 22, 2026
06:33
3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii
Published on: December 9, 2014
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Disease Tolerance in Toxoplasma Infection
Stephanie J Melchor1, Sarah E Ewald1
1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology and the Carter Immunology Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States.
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|June 28, 2019
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii infection triggers host immune responses that balance pathogen clearance with minimizing self-damage. Disease tolerance mechanisms help hosts survive chronic toxoplasmosis by maintaining tissue function despite parasite presence.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Host-pathogen interactions
Background:
- Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite infecting humans and rodents.
- Infection leads to inflammation and systemic spread via immune cells.
- Chronic infection involves parasite cysts and evasion of sterilizing immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review host disease tolerance mechanisms during Toxoplasma infection.
- To explore how tolerance impacts host biology and parasite survival.
- To understand the host immune response's role in mitigating inflammation-induced damage.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on Toxoplasma gondii.
- Analysis of host immune responses, focusing on disease tolerance.
- Examination of host metabolism, tissue structure, and immune function changes.
Main Results:
- Toxoplasma exploits the immunity tradeoff between pathogen clearance and bystander damage.
- Disease tolerance mechanisms promote host survival without directly targeting the parasite.
- Tolerance programs influence host health and parasite biology.
Conclusions:
- Host immune responses involve both resistance and disease tolerance.
- Disease tolerance is crucial for managing chronic Toxoplasma infections.
- Understanding tolerance is key to managing host health during parasitic infections.
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