BFD2 mediates inflammation, apoptosis, and pre-anxiety-like behaviors induced by acute Toxoplasma gondii infection.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii infection induces anxiety in hosts during the chronic stage; however, its role in pre-anxiety-like behaviors during the acute stage remains poorly understood. This study investigates the role of Bradyzoite Formation Deficient 2 (BFD2), a transcription factor essential for tachyzoite-to-bradyzoite differentiation, in inflammation, apoptosis, and behavioral changes during acute T. gondii infection. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, we generated a Bfd2 knockout strain (ME49∆bfd2) and observed reduced parasite proliferation and plaque formation, indicating BFD2's role in promoting T. gondii survival. RNA sequencing analysis of infected BV2 cells revealed that Bfd2 deletion significantly downregulated inflammatory responses, with reduced expression of key inflammatory m

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12410722 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature