1st Edition

Toxoplasma Molecular and Cellular Biology

Edited By James W. Ajioka, Dominique Soldati Copyright 2007
    650 Pages 58 B/W Illustrations
    by Taylor & Francis

    Toxoplasma gondii, once an obscure protozoan parasite, has recently become the focus of intense research, both as a serious pathogen in its own right and as a model member of the phylum Apicomplexa. Written by internationally acclaimed researchers, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive coverage of this important parasite from both the host and pathogen perspectives.

    The authors of this book describe in detail the biological characteristics that make T. gondii and related apicomplexans the most common and successful group of parasites on earth. Essential reading for all researchers working with Toxoplasma and related apicomplexans, Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, and other protozoan parasites.

     

    Part 1: Overview  1. The Life Cycle of Toxoplasma gondii  2. Ultrastructure  Part 2: Pathogenesis, Immunology and Virulence  3. Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Chemotherapy  4. Ocular Toxoplasmosis: Clinical Features, Pathology, Pathogenesis, Animal Models and Immune Responses  5. Congenetial Toxoplasmosis  6. Innate Recognition and the Regulation of Protective Immunity to Toxoplasma gondii  7. Mechanisms of Immune Evasion  8. Apoptosis and its Impact on the Parasite-Host Interaction  9. Pathogenicity and Virulence in Toxoplasma gondii  10. Cellular Response to Infection  Part 3: Genome and Genetics  11. Genetics and Genome Organization of Toxoplasma gondii  12. Evolution and Comparative Genomics of Toxoplasma gondii  13. Population Genetics, Sex and the Emergence of Clonal Lines of Toxoplasma gondii  14. Manipulating the Toxoplasma Genome  Part 4: Growth, Development and Metabolism  15. Cell Cycle Control/Parasite Division  16. Toxoplasma Gene Regulation and Bradyzoite Development  17. Biology of Bradyzoites  18. Chromatin Remodeling  19. Lipid Synthesis and Uptake  20. Nucleotides and Amino Acids  Part 5: Organelles: Sorting, Content and Function  21. Protein Targeting to the Apicoplast  22. The Metabolic Functions of the Mitochondrion and the Apicoplast  23. Microneme Protein Repertoire and Function  24. Proteomic Analysis of the Rhoptry Organelles of Toxoplasma gondii  25. Dense Granules of the Infectious Stages of Toxoplasma gondii: Their Central Role in the Host/Parasite Relationship  26. Calcium Homeostasis and Acidcalciosomes in Toxoplasma gondii  Part 6: Cytoskeleton, Signaling, Motility and Invasion  27. Tubulin, Microtubules and Microtubule-Associated Structures in Toxoplasma gondii  28. Molecular Motors  29. Actin Dynamics and Motility in Apicomplexans  30. Proteases of Toxoplasma gondii  31. The Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane: Transactions at the Parasite Host Interface 

    Biography

    James W. Ajioka, Dominique Soldati