Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection

Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable gene...

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Main Authors: Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito, Gabriella de Lima Bessa, Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho, Filipe Dantas-Torres, Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto, Lilian Lacerda Bueno, Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara, Luisa M. D. Magalhães
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-12-01
Series:Parasites & Vectors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06080-w
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author Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
Gabriella de Lima Bessa
Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho
Filipe Dantas-Torres
Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
Lilian Lacerda Bueno
Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
Luisa M. D. Magalhães
author_facet Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
Gabriella de Lima Bessa
Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho
Filipe Dantas-Torres
Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
Lilian Lacerda Bueno
Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
Luisa M. D. Magalhães
author_sort Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable genetic diversity, T. gondii strains differ widely according to geographical location, with archetypal strains predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and non-archetypal (atypical) strains, with highly diverse genotypes, found mainly in South America. In this review, we present an overview of the identification and distribution of non-archetypal strains of T. gondii. Special attention is paid to the strains that have been isolated in Brazil, their interaction with the host immunological response, and their impact on disease outcomes. The genetic differences among the strains are pivotal to the distinct immunological responses that they elicit. These differences arise from polymorphisms of key proteins released by the parasite, which represent important virulence factors. Infection with divergent non-archetypal strains can lead to unusual manifestations of the disease, even in immunocompetent individuals. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj.art-368d3360b9ee46f0a334b5f70dc9e6d22023-12-24T12:10:56ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-12-0116111410.1186/s13071-023-06080-wGenetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infectionRamayana Morais de Medeiros Brito0Gabriella de Lima Bessa1Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho2Filipe Dantas-Torres3Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto4Lilian Lacerda Bueno5Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara6Luisa M. D. Magalhães7Laboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas GeraisCentro Universitário do Planalto Central Apparecido dos Santos, UNICEPLACLaboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do NorteAggeu Magalhães Institute, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz)Laboratory of Malaria and Toxoplasmosis Biology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Biosciences Centre, Federal University of Rio Grande do NorteLaboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas GeraisLaboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas GeraisLaboratory of Immunobiology and Control of Parasites, Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas GeraisAbstract Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite with a worldwide distribution. Toxoplasma gondii infections are of great concern for public health, and their impact is usually most severe in pregnant women and their foetuses, and in immunocompromised individuals. Displaying considerable genetic diversity, T. gondii strains differ widely according to geographical location, with archetypal strains predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere and non-archetypal (atypical) strains, with highly diverse genotypes, found mainly in South America. In this review, we present an overview of the identification and distribution of non-archetypal strains of T. gondii. Special attention is paid to the strains that have been isolated in Brazil, their interaction with the host immunological response, and their impact on disease outcomes. The genetic differences among the strains are pivotal to the distinct immunological responses that they elicit. These differences arise from polymorphisms of key proteins released by the parasite, which represent important virulence factors. Infection with divergent non-archetypal strains can lead to unusual manifestations of the disease, even in immunocompetent individuals. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06080-wAtypical strainsToxoplasmosisImmunityVirulence factors
spellingShingle Ramayana Morais de Medeiros Brito
Gabriella de Lima Bessa
Alexandre Lazoski Bastilho
Filipe Dantas-Torres
Valter Ferreira de Andrade-Neto
Lilian Lacerda Bueno
Ricardo Toshio Fujiwara
Luisa M. D. Magalhães
Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
Parasites & Vectors
Atypical strains
Toxoplasmosis
Immunity
Virulence factors
title Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
title_full Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
title_fullStr Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
title_full_unstemmed Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
title_short Genetic diversity of Toxoplasma gondii in South America: occurrence, immunity, and fate of infection
title_sort genetic diversity of toxoplasma gondii in south america occurrence immunity and fate of infection
topic Atypical strains
Toxoplasmosis
Immunity
Virulence factors
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-06080-w
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