Live-attenuated ME49Δcdpk3 strain of Toxoplasma gondii protects against acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

ABSTRACT: Toxoplasmosis, a common parasitic disease, is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which infects approximately 30% of the world's population. This obligate intracellular protozoan causes significant economic losses and poses serious public health challenges worldwide. However, the development of an effective toxoplasmosis vaccine in humans remains a challenge to date. In this study, we observed that the knockout of calcium-dependent protein kinase 3 (CDPK3) in the type II ME49 strain greatly attenuated virulence in mice and significantly reduced cyst formation. Hence, we evaluated the protective immunity of ME49Δcdpk3 as a live attenuated vaccine against toxoplasmosis. Our results showed that ME49Δcdpk3 vaccination triggered a strong immune response marked by significantly elevated proinflammatory

SUBMITTER: Wu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9391373 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature