Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that is capable of infecting most nucleated cell types. Like other intracellular parasites, Toxoplasma alters, via unknown mechanisms, host cell activities in order to create an environment conducive for its own growth. The focus of our work is to unravel how Toxoplasma alters host cell functions and how they contribute to parasite growth and/ or virulence.

The major goal of our laboratory is to identify the parasite-derived molecules that cause these changes and elucidate the roles they play in regulating the host-pathogen interaction. To accomplish this, we take a multi-faceted approach that combines functional genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, cell biology, and immunology. Using cDNA microarrays, we have characterized the changes in host gene expression following infection and use the microarray data for two different purposes. First, we want to know how host genes are modulated during infection. To do this, we identify the parasite-derived factors and the downstream host signaling pathways that are important in modulating host cell gene expression. Second, we want to know which host genes and signaling pathways are required by the host to withstand infection ("pro-host") and which are required by the parasite for its growth ("pro-parasite"). This is accomplished by testing the parasite's growth and virulence in cell lines and animals that harbor mutations in these genes and pathways. These studies will give us a more precise picture of the finely orchestrated interaction between Toxoplasma gondii and its host cell.

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Selected Publications

 

1. "Toxoplasma gondii Asexual Development: Identification of Developmentally Regulated Genes and Distinct Patterns of Gene Expression." (2002) M. D. Cleary (*), U. Singh (*), I. J. Blader(*), and J. C. Boothroyd. Eukaryotic Cell, 1:329-340. (*These authors contributed equally to this work).
2. "Immediate/early Response to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Involves Minimal Modulation of Host Cell Transcription." (2002) S. V. de Avalos, I. J. Blader, M. Fisher, J. C. Boothroyd, and B. Burleigh. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 277: 639-644.
3. "Microarray Analysis Reveals Previously Unknown Changes to Toxoplasma gondii Infected Human Cells." (2001) I. J. Blader, I. D. Manger, and J. C. Boothroyd. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276: 24223-24231

 

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