SummaryThe processes leading to systemic dissemination of the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii remain unelucidated. In vitro studies on human and murine dendritic cells (DC) revealed that active invasion of DC by Toxoplasma induces a state of hypermotility in DC, enabling transmigration of infected DC across endothelial cell monolayers in the absence of chemotactic stimuli. Infected DC exhibited upregulation of maturation markers and co-stimulatory molecules. While modulation of cell adhesion molecules CD11/CD18 was similar for Toxoplasma -infected DC and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-matured DC, Toxoplasma -infected DC did not exhibit upregulation of CD54/ICAM-1. Induction of host cell migration in vitro required live intracellular parasite(s) and was inhibited by uncoupling the G i -protein signalling pathway with pertussis toxin, but did not depend on CCR5, CCR7 or Toll/interleukin-1 receptor signalling. When migration of Toxoplasma -infected DC was compared with migration of LPS-stimulated DC in vivo , similar or higher numbers of Toxoplasma -infected DC reached the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen respectively. Adoptive transfer of Toxoplasmainfected DC resulted in more rapid dissemination of parasites to distant organs and in exacerbation of infection compared with inoculation with free parasites. Altogether, these findings show that Toxoplasma is able to subvert the regulation of host cell motility and likely exploits the host's natural pathways of cellular migration for parasite dissemination.

Following intestinal invasion, the processes leading to systemic dissemination of the obligate intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii remain poorly understood. Recently, tachyzoites representative of type I, II and III T. gondii populations were shown to differ with respect to their ability to transmigrate across cellular barriers. In this process of active parasite motility, type I strains exhibit a migratory capacity superior to those of the type II and type III strains. Data also suggest that tachyzoites rely on migrating dendritic cells (DC) as shuttling leukocytes to disseminate in tissue, e.g., the brain, where cysts develop. In this study, T. gondii tachyzoites sampled from the three populations were allowed to infect primary human blood DC, murine intestinal DC, or in vitro-derived DC and were compared for different phenotypic traits. All three archetypical lineages of T. gondii induced a hypermigratory phenotype in DC shortly after infection in vitro. Type II (and III) strains induced higher migratory frequency and intensity in DC than type I strains did. Additionally, adoptive transfer of infected DC favored the dissemination of type II and type III parasites over that of type I parasites in syngeneic mice. Type II parasites exhibited stronger intracellular association with both CD11c؉ DC and other leukocytes in vivo than did type I parasites. Altogether, these findings suggest that infected DC contribute to parasite propagation in a strain type-specific manner and that the parasite genotype (type II) most frequently associated with toxoplasmosis in humans efficiently exploits DC migration for parasite dissemination.The obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii infects virtually any warm-blooded vertebrate and ϳ25% of the world's human population (27). Most infections generate few or no symptoms. Yet, acute infections are a concern in human medicine, since this opportunistic pathogen causes severe neurological complications in immunocompromised individuals, disseminated congenital infections in the developing fetus, and ocular manifestations in otherwise healthy individuals (27). After ingestion of the parasite, acute infection is characterized by the proliferation of fast-growing stages (tachyzoites) that rapidly disseminate and differentiate into slow-growing stages (bradyzoites) in peripheral tissues, where they may persist for the lifetime of the host (27). In contrast to pathogens that rely on uptake by host cells, T. gondii actively invades host cells, including cells of the immune system, and replicates in a nonfusigenic parasitophorous vacuole (45).Mounting evidence indicates that dendritic cells (DC) play critical roles during T. gondii infection as early sources of protective interleukin-12 responses and mediators of antigen presentation (32,35,37,41). In addition, based on their migratory properties (40) and permissiveness to Toxoplasma infection (6), DC have recently been identified as systemic carriers (Trojan horses) of T. gondii tachyzoites (2,7,30). Yet, the precise roles of ...

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SummaryProtozoan parasites belong to the most widespread and devastating human pathogens. Their ability to manipulate host responses and establish infection in their hosts continues to puzzle researchers. Recent developments of experimental model systems are contributing to the discovery of new aspects of the biology of parasite dissemination. Here, we review current knowledge on strategies utilized by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii to disseminate and establish infection in its host. Recent findings have revealed intricate mechanisms by which this obligate intracellular protozoan sequesters cellular functions of the immune system to assure propagation. These mechanisms include the hijacking of migratory leucocytes, modulation of migratory properties of infected cells and rapid transfer of parasites between different leucocyte populations by cytotoxicity-induced parasite egress. Collectively, Toxoplasma strikes a delicate balance, assuring efficient dissemination and establishment of asymptomatic lifelong infection in its host while protecting its intracellular entity and limiting host pathology.