ROLES OF IFN-γ ON STAGE CONVERSION OF AN OBLIGATE INTRACELLULAR PROTOZOAN PARASITE, Toxoplasma Gondii

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Abstract
IFN-γ downregulates the stage conversion of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), from bradyzoites to tachyzoites, and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of T. gondii ( T.g. HSP70) by tachyzoites. T.g. HSP70 has been shown to downregulate NO release from macrophages and also to induce auto-HSP70 antibody formation and IL-10 secretion by VH11-JH1 B-1 cells, resulting in the suppression of host defense responses to T. gondii infection. A novel category of virulent tachyzoite stage of T. gondii expressing T.g. HSP70 (virulent tachyzoite), which indirectly manifests its pathogenicity by downregulating host defense responses, has been proposed.