Metabolic reconstruction identifies strain-specific regulation of virulence in Toxoplasma gondii.

ABSTRACT: Increasingly, metabolic potential is proving to be a critical determinant governing a pathogen's virulence as well as its capacity to expand its host range. To understand the potential contribution of metabolism to strain-specific infectivity differences, we present a constraint-based metabolic model of the opportunistic parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Dominated by three clonal strains (Type I, II, and III demonstrating distinct virulence profiles), T. gondii exhibits a remarkably broad host range. Integrating functional genomic data, our model (which we term as iCS382) reveals that observed strain-specific differences in growth rates are driven by altered capacities for energy production. We further predict strain-specific differences in drug susceptibilities and validate one of these predic

SUBMITTER: Song C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4039375 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature