The GRA15 protein from Toxoplasma gondii enhances host defense responses by activating the interferon stimulator STING.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasma gondii is an important neurotropic pathogen that establishes latent infections in humans that can cause toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised individuals. It replicates inside host cells and has developed several strategies to manipulate host immune responses. However, the cytoplasmic pathogen-sensing pathway that detects T. gondii is not well-characterized. Here, we found that cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), a sensor of foreign dsDNA, is required for activation of anti-T. gondii immune signaling in a mouse model. We also found that mice deficient in STING (Sting^gt/gt mice) are much more susceptible to T. gondii infection than WT mice. Of note, the induction of inflammatory cytokines, type I IFNs, and interferon-stimulated genes in the

SUBMITTER: Wang P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6851339 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature