Fatal toxoplasmic encephalitis triggered by anti-TNF therapy.

Reactivation of a latent infection by the protozoan parasite can result in severe neurologic outcomes and even death. reactivation cases have been strongly associated with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, but other immunosuppressive situations are also associated. Anti-TNF-α therapy reliably triggers the reactivation of latent cysts in mice models.

Modeling Toxoplasma gondii-gut early interactions using a human microphysiological system.

Oral transmission of parasites via environmentally resistant cyst stages in contaminated food or water is a common route of human infection, but there are no effective vaccines available for any enteric parasitic infection. Our knowledge of parasite cyst stage conversion and interaction with the intestinal tract is limited. Here, we investigate infection dynamics of Toxoplasma gondii cyst-stage in murine jejunum and human intestinal microphysiological systems.

Development of a therapeutic delivery platform with reduced colonization potential.

Bacterial biotherapeutic delivery vehicles have the potential to treat a variety of diseases. This approach obviates the need to purify the recombinant effector molecule, allows delivery of therapeutics via oral or intranasal administration, and protects the effector molecule during gastrointestinal transit. Lactic acid bacteria have been broadly developed as therapeutic delivery vehicles though risks associated with the colonization of a genetically modified microorganism have so-far not been addressed.