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Secreted effectors in Toxoplasma gondii and related species: determinants of host range and pathogenesis?
Author(s) -
English E. D.,
AdomakoAnkomah Y.,
Boyle J. P.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/pim.12166
Subject(s) - biology , toxoplasma gondii , neospora caninum , virulence , effector , pathogen , host (biology) , genome , toxoplasmosis , parasite hosting , gene , genetics , virology , immunology , antibody , world wide web , computer science
Summary Recent years have witnessed the discovery of a number of secreted proteins in Toxoplasma gondii that play important roles in host–pathogen interactions and parasite virulence, particularly in the mouse model. However, the role that these proteins play in driving the unique features of T. gondii compared to some of its nearest apicomplexan relatives ( Hammondia hammondi and Neospora caninum ) is unknown. These unique features include distinct dissemination characteristics in vivo and a vast host range. In this review we comprehensively survey what is known about disease outcome, the host response and host range for T. gondii , H. hammondi , and N. caninum . We then review what is presently known about recently identified secreted virulence effectors in these three genetically related, but phenotypically distinct, species. Finally we exploit the existence of genome sequences for these three organisms and discuss what is known about the presence, and functionality, of key T. gondii effectors in these three species.