Toxoplasmosis
The single-celled parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes the infection Toxoplasmosis, which is a matter of great health concern. It is reported to be the single leading cause of deaths caused by foodborne illnesses in the United States. The infection is started when the parasite gets ingested through contaminated or undercooked food. I would like to mention that our company is fully prepared to meet your demands in drug and therapy development concerning Toxoplasmosis therapy.
Introduction to Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that affects nearly 1/3 pf the entire world. In people with a healthy immune system, it usually shows no symptoms or has mild flu-like symptoms. But it does pose a major threat to those with a weak immune system or during pregnancy as it can result in horrific congenital infections. The rate of acute Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women is about 1.1% globally, with Middle East and Africa reporting even higher numbers. According to some studies, in Germany the average annual incidence of non-pregnancy associated toxoplasmosis was around 9.5 per 100,000 people between the years of 2011 and 2016.
Molecular Diagnosis Development of Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the infection of T. gondii and can show symptoms that vary across different hosts. In healthy individuals, the symptoms tend to be silent, as opposed to those suffering from immune deficiency, as they can exhibit severe symptoms such as pain in the muscles and joints.
Toxoplasmosis that is transferred during pregnancy can cause severe alterations to the fetus or even lead to a miscarriage. Individuals suffering from chronic infections have dormant tissue cysts that can reactivate if the person's immunity weakens. T. gondii can control the actions of its host and decreased the fears rodents have toward cats. Similar behavioral and psychiatric changes can be observed in humans. The immune response evoked by T. gondii is robust and relies on cytokine production and modulation of the immune system to establish chronic infection.
Fig. 1 Parasite life cycle. (Johnson, S.K. and Johnson, P.T.J., 2021)
Biomakers of Toxoplasmosis
Protein based marker
- Subtilisin-like protein (SUB1): Micronems produced the TgSUB1 protein during the acute phase of infection.
- GRA 1-8: A good serological marker for detecting specific IgG and IgM in toxoplasmosis.
- MIC 2,3 Microneme protein: These are recombinant protein with GST domain.
- M2AP; BAG 1; TgOWP1-f; LDH1, 2; NTPase
DNA based marker
- 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene: Coded by the same DNA strand as the rDNA unit.
- SRP RNA: For secretion of nascent proteins to endoplasmic reticulum is necessary.
- The internal transcribed spacer TS1: ITS-1 is the spacer region between the 18s and 5.8s genes.
Therapeutic Development of Toxoplasmosis
Host enable therapies incorporate an unparalleled mode of treating parasitic infections. Unlike traditional methods that directly address the parasite, these target the infectious host's cells and tissue. These therapies look to strengthen the immune systems of the host and modify inflammation while shifting the cellular environment to be more hostile to the parasite's growth. There are some potential host-directed drug targets against Toxoplasmosis.
- Immune check point inhibitors: Reinvigorated T-cell function
- Adoptive immunotherapy: CD8+ T-cell responses to clear infection
- Parasite-derived exosomes: Triggered immune responses and prolonged cell survival times
- Rottlerin: Inhibited mTORC1
Vaccine Development of Toxoplasmosis
| Type | Antigen | Mouse strain | Challenged T.gondii strain | Survival rate (duration)a |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNA vaccines | GRA24 | Mouse (BALB/c) | Type I: RH | 0% (32 days) |
| MYR1 | Mouse (BALB/c) | Type I: RH | 0% (36 days) | |
| MIC5, MIC16 | Mouse (Kunming) | Type I: RH Type II: PRU |
0% (26 days) NDb |
|
| Subunit vaccines | ASP3 | Mouse (BALB/c) | Type I: RH | 0% (18 days) |
| PRX1 | Mouse (BALB/c) | Type II: PLK | <70% | |
| Virus-like particle vaccines | MIC8 | Mouse (BALB/c) | Type I: RH | 100% |
| ROP13 | Mouse (BALB/c | Type II: ME49 | Murine model | |
| B and T cell epitopes | Mouse (BALB/c | Type I: RH Type II: ME49 |
0% (20 days) NDb |
Our Services
As a company, we take a collaborative approach whereby we work together with the client to develop novel and effective therapy solutions for Toxoplasmosis. We provide full assistance through the entire development process assuring effective and adequate solutions.
Platforms of Toxoplasmosis Therapy Development
Animal Models of Toxoplasmosis
We have broad experience in developing animal models of Toxoplasmosis and its disease manifestations and therapeutic responses. These animal models allow us to accurately test the safety and efficacy of the prospective therapies.
| Non-Genetically Engineering Models | ||
|---|---|---|
| We provide an array of models designed to meet specific research requirements for Toxoplasmosis. These models allow researchers to replicate and study the intricate biological processes associated with the disease. | ||
| Optional Models |
|
Acute T. gondii Infection Model Toxoplasma Retinochoroiditis Model |
In addition, we offer a range of comprehensive animal model services that concentrate on specific signaling pathways and molecular targets.
If you are interested in our services, please contact us as soon as possible for more information.
References
- Johnson, S.K. and Johnson, P.T.J., "Toxoplasmosis: Recent Advances in Understanding the Link Between Infection and Host Behavior." Annu Rev Anim Biosci, (2021). 9: p. 249-264.
- Molaei, S., et al., "Toxoplasmosis diagnostic techniques: Current developed methods and biosensors." Talanta, (2023). 252: p. 123828.
- Chu, K.B. and Quan, F.S., "Recent progress in vaccine development targeting pre-clinical human toxoplasmosis." Parasites Hosts Dis, (2023). 61(3): p. 231-239.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.