Intracellular protozoan parasite - Toxoplasma gondii

Bhattacharjee, Shreetama; Singh, Aditi

doi:10.21608/mid.2025.375400.2697

Intracellular protozoan parasite - Toxoplasma gondii

Microbes and Infectious Diseases

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 June 2025

Document Type: Review Article

DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.375400.2697

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Authors

Shreetama Bhattacharjee; Aditi Singh

Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow - 226028, India

Abstract

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intestinal coccidium that parasitizes cats as definitive hosts and a variety of intermediate hosts. Many warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to infection. Most infections are asymptomatic, but severe diseases can occur. The life cycle of T. gondii includes both asexual and sexual phases. Among all animals, only cats go through the sexual life cycle phase, that makes them 'definitive' hosts of T. gondii. T. gondii can naturally infect a wide range of warm-blooded intermediate hosts, from birds, humans to rodents, in addition to its definitive host. T. gondii replicates asexually in intermediate hosts, which means that the parasites merely duplicate their haploid DNA and split into two daughter cells. Endodyogeny is a process that differs slightly from ordinary eukaryotic cell division. T. gondii invades host cells by inserting its 'invasion machinery' into the plasma membrane of the cell. Over the last few years, a huge quantity of new research on the biology and immunology of T. gondii has accumulated. The introduction of AIDS, as well as increased funding for researchers sparked interest in opportunistic infections in patients. Scientific breakthroughs have enhanced our understanding of the parasite's molecular biology and biochemistry, antigenic structure and immune response to infection, as well as efforts to drug discovery and therapeutic techniques. Such advancements can be realized by recognizing the necessity of knowing the basic science of an opportunistic pathogen.

Keywords

Toxoplasmosis; intracellular parasite; endodyogeny; opportunistic pathogen; Toxoplasma gondii

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	Intracellular protozoan parasite - Toxoplasma gondii
Microbes and Infectious Diseases
Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 05 June 2025
Document Type: Review Article
DOI: 10.21608/mid.2025.375400.2697
View on SCiNiTO
Authors
Shreetama Bhattacharjee; Aditi Singh
Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Campus, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow - 226028, India
Abstract
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intestinal coccidium that parasitizes cats as definitive hosts and a variety of intermediate hosts. Many warm-blooded animals, including humans, are susceptible to infection. Most infections are asymptomatic, but severe diseases can occur. The life cycle of T. gondii includes both asexual and sexual phases. Among all animals, only cats go through the sexual life cycle phase, that makes them 'definitive' hosts of T. gondii. T. gondii can naturally infect a wide range of warm-blooded intermediate hosts, from birds, humans to rodents, in addition to its definitive host. T. gondii replicates asexually in intermediate hosts, which means that the parasites merely duplicate their haploid DNA and split into two daughter cells. Endodyogeny is a process that differs slightly from ordinary eukaryotic cell division. T. gondii invades host cells by inserting its 'invasion machinery' into the plasma membrane of the cell. Over the last few years, a huge quantity of new research on the biology and immunology of T. gondii has accumulated. The introduction of AIDS, as well as increased funding for researchers sparked interest in opportunistic infections in patients. Scientific breakthroughs have enhanced our understanding of the parasite's molecular biology and biochemistry, antigenic structure and immune response to infection, as well as efforts to drug discovery and therapeutic techniques. Such advancements can be realized by recognizing the necessity of knowing the basic science of an opportunistic pathogen.
Keywords
Toxoplasmosis; intracellular parasite; endodyogeny; opportunistic pathogen; Toxoplasma gondii


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