Title: Investigating T. gondii’s developmental trajectories and sexual commitment in the cat
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a widespread parasitic disease that can result in severe pathology in immunocompromised and pregnant individuals. T. gondii has a complex life cycle, which involves both asexual and sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction can occur in nearly all nucleated cells from warm-blooded animals, while sexual reproduction is restricted to the epithelial cells of the small intestine of felids. Sexual development is a key to genetic diversity, and of equal significance, this process is crucial to dissemination, as a single felid can shed millions of oocysts. These oocysts are stable in the environment for years. This phase exhibits a distinct transcriptional profile when compared to tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Although there are distinct differences at the transcriptional level, linking gene expression and stage transition remains understudied. The genetic triggers responsible for driving T. gondii from asexual to sexual development are unknown, nor is it known what influences whether parasites develop into male and female gametes. To investigate this phase of the life cycle, we engineered a parasite strain with a fluorescent marker that is on when parasites are developing within the cat’s gut. We used the T. gondii transgenic strain in cats’ infections and harvested merozoites from the small intestine of these cats. We sorted for fluorescently labeled parasites and processed them for single-cell RNA sequencing. The resulting data output made it possible to classify, characterize, and parse each cell at the transcriptome level, which led to the identification of rare cell populations. This data has the potential to address the critical question of how T. gondii's sexual development is regulated in the cat. As we delve into these uncharted territories, fueled by this unique dataset, we anticipate uncovering answers that will significantly contribute to our understanding of T. gondii's sexual development, data that will eventually lead to developing strategies to cultivate these life stages more easily.
Boyle Lab
Friday, February 2nd, 2024
12:00PM
Langley A219B