Differential Gamma Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Driven Cytokine Response Distinguishes Acute Infection of a Metatherian Host with Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Shannon L Donahoe; David N Phalen; Bronwyn M McAllan; Denis O'Meally; Milton M McAllister; John Ellis; Jan Slapeta

doi:10.1128/IAI.00173-17

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Differential Gamma Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Driven Cytokine Response Distinguishes Acute Infection of a Metatherian Host with Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Differential Gamma Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Driven Cytokine Response Distinguishes Acute Infection of a Metatherian Host with Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Shannon L Donahoe, David N Phalen, Bronwyn M McAllan, Denis O'Meally, Milton M McAllister, John Ellis and Jan Slapeta

Infection and immunity, Vol.85(6), e00173-17

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00173-17

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Abstract

apicomplexan parasites

cytokines

real-time PCR

transcriptomics

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum (both Apicomplexa) are closely related cyst-forming coccidian parasites that differ significantly in their host range and ability to cause disease. Unlike eutherian mammals, Australian marsupials (metatherian mammals) have long been thought to be highly susceptible to toxoplasmosis and neosporosis because of their historical isolation from the parasites. In this study, the carnivorous fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) was used as a disease model to investigate the immune response and susceptibility to infection of an Australian marsupial to T. gondii and N. caninum. Disease outcome was more severe in N. caninum infected dunnarts than in T. gondii infected dunnarts, as shown by the severity of clinical and histopathological features of disease and a higher tissue parasite burden in the tissues evaluated. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of spleens from infected dunnarts and mitogen-stimulated dunnart splenocytes was used to define the cytokine repertoire. Changes in mRNA expression during the time course of infection was measured using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) for key Th1 (IFNγ, TNFα), Th2 (IL-4, IL-6), and Th17 (IL-17A) cytokines. The results show qualitative differences in cytokine responses by the fat-tailed dunnart to infection with N. caninum and T. gondii. Dunnarts infected with T. gondii were capable of mounting a more effective Th1 immune response than those infected with N. caninum, indicating the role of the immune response in the outcome scenarios of parasite infection in this marsupial mammal.

Details

Title: Differential Gamma Interferon- and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha-Driven Cytokine Response Distinguishes Acute Infection of a Metatherian Host with Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum
Authors: Shannon L Donahoe (Author) - University of Sydney
David N Phalen (Author) - University of Sydney
Bronwyn M McAllan (Author) - University of Sydney
Denis O'Meally (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Milton M McAllister (Author) - University of Adelaide
John Ellis (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Jan Slapeta (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: Infection and immunity, Vol.85(6), e00173-17; 14
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1128/IAI.00173-17
ISSN: 0019-9567
Copyright note: Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology. The author's accepted version is reproduced here in accordance with the publisher's copyright policy. The definitive version is available at http://aem.asm.org/
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450518802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Immunology; Infectious Diseases

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