Roles of IFN-gamma on stage conversion of an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii.

IFN-gamma downregulates the stage conversion of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), from bradyzoites to tachyzoites, and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of T. gondii (T.g.HSP70) by tachyzoites. T.g.HSP70 has been shown to downregulate NO release from macrophages and also to induce auto-HSP70 antibody formation and IL-10 secretion by VH11-JH1 B-1 cells, resulting in the suppression of host defense responses to T. gondii infection. A novel category of virulent tachyzoite stage of T. gondii expressing T.g.HSP70 (virulent tachyzoite), which indirectly manifests its pathogenicity by downregulating host defense responses, has been proposed.