Korean J Parasitol.  2019 Apr;57(2):93-99. 10.3347/kjp.2019.57.2.93.

Previous Infection with Plasmodium berghei Confers Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Mice

• Lee DH
• Chu KB
• Kang HJ
• Lee SH
• Quan FS

• KMID: 2448140
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2019.57.2.93

Abstract

Both Plasmodium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are important apicomplexan parasites, which infect humans worldwide. Genetic analyses have revealed that 33% of amino acid sequences of inner membrane complex from the malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei is similar to that of Toxoplasma gondii. Inner membrane complex is known to be involved in cell invasion and replication. In this study, we investigated the resistance against T. gondii (ME49) infection induced by previously infected P. berghei (ANKA) in mice. Levels of T. gondii-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations were found higher in the mice infected with P. berghei (ANKA) and challenged with T. gondii (ME49) compared to that in control mice infected with T. gondii alone (ME49). P. berghei (ANKA) + T. gondii (ME49) group showed significantly reduced the number and size of T. gondii (ME49) cysts in the brains of mice, resulting in lower body weight loss compared to ME49 control group. These results indicate that previous exposure to P. berghei (ANKA) induce resistance to subsequent T. gondii (ME49) infection.

Keyword

Toxoplasma gondii; Plasmodium berghei; inner membrane complex; T cell population; antibody response; cyst

MeSH Terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Antibody Formation
Body Weight
Brain
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Malaria
Membranes
Mice*
Parasites
Plasmodium berghei*
Plasmodium*
Toxoplasma*
Toxoplasmosis*
Immunoglobulin G