CD8⁺ T Cell Responses to Toxoplasma gondii: Lessons from a Successful Parasite

Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice provides an excellent model for the study of CD8⁺ T cell responses. Natural and engineered T. gondii antigens have led the way to understanding the factors regulating antigen presentation from vacuolar pathogens. T. gondii infection of resistant and sensitive mouse strains provides unique models to study both effective CD8⁺ T cell function and protection in a well-controlled infection attributed to a novel T cell population, and T cell exhaustion in a progressing chronic infection. Additionally, the long-term persistence of the parasite in the brain provides a unique model of neurotropic infection used to study CD8⁺ T cell entry, retention, and function in the brain. Here we discuss recent advances in each of these areas.