Pathogenic Microbiology Commons^™

Investigation Of Host Responses Upon Infection Of Distinct Toxoplasma Strains, Rachel Devonne Hill

Doctoral Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of Toxoplasmosis in human and animals. T. gondii isolates are highly diverse. Hundreds of genotypes have been identified, but only three clonal lineages, namely Type I, II and III are prevalent worldwide. In mouse model, T. gondii strains can be divided into three groups based on their virulence, including the virulent (LD₁₀₀=1), the intermediately virulent (LD₅₀ = 10³-10⁴) and the non virulent (LD₅₀ > 10⁵). The clonal Type I, II and III T. gondii strains belong to these three groups, respectively. Epidemiologic studies suggest the …