Toxoplasma rhoptry proteins that affect encephalitis outcome

Toxoplasma gondii, a widespread obligate intracellular parasite, can infect almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans. The cellular barrier of the central nervous system (CNS) is generally able to protect the brain parenchyma from infectious damage. However, T. gondii typically causes latent brain infections in humans and other vertebrates. Here, we discuss how T. gondii rhoptry proteins (ROPs) affect signaling pathways in host cells and speculate how this might affect the outcome of Toxoplasma encephalitis.