Research Projects

Toxoplasma gondii is an. obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite that infects virtually any warm-blooded animal, including a third of the human population. In general, toxoplasmosis is usually asymptomatic in immunocompetent persons, but it can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals and developing fetuses. With introduction of anti-retroviral therapy its detection has declined in HIV(Human immunodeficiency virus) positive patients. but, with increasing burden of immunocompromised population (malignancy, transplant recipients) timely and effective diagnosis of acute T. gondii infection is imperative. Convenient serological tests have been widely applied to diagnose toxoplasmosis, which are mainly based on the detection of specific antibodies. The T. gondii invasion process is rapid and dynamic and relies on the secretion of numerous proteins from micronemes, rhoptries and dense granules. Excretory/secretory antigens (ESA) are a group of antigens from T. gondii that represent the majority of circulating antigens in the sera of hosts during acute toxoplasmosis and the reactivation of infection. Recent evidence strongly suggests that can serve as serological markers to diagnose acute infection. To date, only a limited number of circulating antigens have been identified. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the a protemic target specific for T. gondii in sera of acutely infected mice and humans using immunoblotting and LC-MS/MS