Spontaneous cystogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii in feline epithelial cells in vitro

Muno, Renata Morley de; Moura, Marcos A.; Carvalho, Luiz Roberto; Seabra, Sérgio Henrique; Barbosa, Helene Santos

doi:10.14411/fp.2014.017

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Like other researchers, we consider that cystogenesis is a spontaneous event dependent on the strain of T. gondii. For example, low-virulent strains (type II) such as ME49 have a natural ability to form cysts in mammalian cells [35][36][37][38][39][40]. Therefore, we believe that the cell type might be one of the factors that determine the intracellular parasite fate and that intrinsic cellular factors could promote the differentiation stage of T. gondii without the need for extrinsic stress factors [41][42][43].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Schizont Stages of Toxoplasma gondii in Primary Cell Culture of Feline Enterocytes

Muno¹,

Moura²,

Medeiros³

et al. 2023

Towards New Perspectives on Toxoplasma Gondii

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Intestinal epithelial cell cultures are a potentially applicable model for investigating enteropathogens such as the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis. Felids such as domestic cats are the only known definitive hosts where the parasite undergoes sexual reproduction, which occurs in the enterocytes. Primary feline intestinal epithelial cell (FIEC) cultures were obtained from the fetal small gut of felines, and the epithelial nature of these cells was confirmed by the revelation of cytokeratin and intestinal alkaline phosphatase content by fluorescence microscopy, besides alignment, microvilli, and adherent intercellular junctions by ultrastructural analysis. FIECs infected with T. gondii bradyzoite forms showed that the parasite:cell ratio was determinant for establishing the lytic cycle and cystogenesis and the induction of schizont-like forms. Type C and D schizonts were identified by light and electron microscopies, which showed morphological characteristics like those previously described based on the analysis of cat intestines experimentally infected with T. gondii. These data indicate that FIECs simulate the microenvironment of the felid intestine, allowing the development of schizogony and classic endopolygeny. This cellular framework opens new perspectives for the in vitro investigation of biological and molecular aspects involved in the T. gondii enteric cycle.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of Schizont Stages of Toxoplasma gondii in Primary Cell Culture of Feline Enterocytes

Muno¹,

Moura²,

Medeiros³

et al. 2023

Towards New Perspectives on Toxoplasma Gondii

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“…The development of the syncytial-like forms of T. gondii were observed after 6 hours of infection, suggesting the presence of sexual stages of the parasite by light microscopy ( Moura et al., 2009 ). Despite this, the use of FEICs monolayers has not been extensively adopted in the culturing of T. gondii most likely because of the complexity to obtain, propagate and preserve these cells ( de Muno et al., 2014 ). In addition, there are ethical concerns with respect to the use of felids as experimental models.…”

Section: Intestinal In Vitro and Ex Vivo...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Toxoplasma gondii´s Biology within the Intestinal Epithelium: intestinal-derived models to unravel sexual differentiation

Sena

Cancela

Bollati-Fogolín

et al. 2023

Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol.

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A variety of intestinal-derived culture systems have been developed to mimic in vivo cell behavior and organization, incorporating different tissue and microenvironmental elements. Great insight into the biology of the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii, has been attained by using diverse in vitro cellular models. Nonetheless, there are still processes key to its transmission and persistence which remain to be elucidated, such as the mechanisms underlying its systemic dissemination and sexual differentiation both of which occur at the intestinal level. Because this event occurs in a complex and specific cellular environment (the intestine upon ingestion of infective forms, and the feline intestine, respectively), traditional reductionist in vitro cellular models fail to recreate conditions resembling in vivo physiology. The development of new biomaterials and the advances in cell culture knowledge have opened the door to a next generation of more physiologically relevant cellular models. Among them, organoids have become a valuable tool for unmasking the underlying mechanism involved in T. gondii sexual differentiation. Murine-derived intestinal organoids mimicking the biochemistry of the feline intestine have allowed the generation of pre-sexual and sexual stages of T. gondii for the first time in vitro, opening a window of opportunity to tackling these stages by “felinizing” a wide variety of animal cell cultures. Here, we reviewed intestinal in vitro and ex vivo models and discussed their strengths and limitations in the context of a quest for faithful models to in vitro emulate the biology of the enteric stages of T. gondii.

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“…The reason that the feline gut epithelium is the only tissue that can accommodate sexual reproduction of this parasite remains largely unknown. In recent years, interest in the development of methods for establishing in vitro culturing models of cat intestine has increased and, it is hoped, that these models may help in unraveling the mechanisms that allow this particular location in this particular host to support the sexual development of T. gondii (15)(16)(17). A recent study, using feline intestinal organoids, has shown that a critical factor in the exclusive occurrence of sexual reproduction and oocyst production, in the feline gut is the intrinsic abundance of linoleic acid in cats when compared to other mammalian (non-felid) hosts (18).…”

Section: Reproductive Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis

2020

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SUMMARY Toxoplasma gondii is known to infect a considerable number of mammalian and avian species and a substantial proportion of the world’s human population. The parasite has an impressive ability to disseminate within the host’s body and employs various tactics to overcome the highly regulatory blood-brain barrier and reside in the brain. In healthy individuals, T. gondii infection is largely tolerated without any obvious ill effects. However, primary infection in immunosuppressed patients can result in acute cerebral or systemic disease, and reactivation of latent tissue cysts can lead to a deadly outcome. It is imperative that treatment of life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis is timely and effective. Several therapeutic and prophylactic regimens have been used in clinical practice. Current approaches can control infection caused by the invasive and highly proliferative tachyzoites but cannot eliminate the dormant tissue cysts. Adverse events and other limitations are associated with the standard pyrimethamine-based therapy, and effective vaccines are unavailable. In this review, the epidemiology, economic impact, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of cerebral toxoplasmosis are discussed, and critical areas for future research are highlighted.

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Spontaneous cystogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii in feline epithelial cells in vitro

Cited by 4 publications

References 42 publications

Development of Schizont Stages of Toxoplasma gondii in Primary Cell Culture of Feline Enterocytes

Development of Schizont Stages of Toxoplasma gondii in Primary Cell Culture of Feline Enterocytes

Exploring Toxoplasma gondii´s Biology within the Intestinal Epithelium: intestinal-derived models to unravel sexual differentiation

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis

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