ArticleParasites & vectors2026
The role of TgEfhc3 in Toxoplasma gondii biology and its prospects as a subunit vaccine.
Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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13 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundToxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, poses a significant global health threat, with no commercial vaccine available for humans. The parasite's egress process, which bridges its intracellular replication cycles and is critical for survival and dissemination, is tightly regulated by calcium. Notably, the T. gondii EF-hand domain-containing protein (Efhc) exhibits the highest Ca
methodsCRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate a conditional knockout strain (TgEfhc3-C-AID). Phenotypic assays (plaque, intracellular proliferation, egress, invasion and murine virulence) were used to assess its impact on tachyzoite growth and development. Subsequently, TgEfhc3 antigenicity was analyzed using DNAstar software, immunofluorescence assays and Western blots. Recombinant TgEfhc3 (rTgEfhc3) proteins, expressed in Escherichia coli, were subcutaneously administered to BALB/c mice to evaluate their protective efficacy against acute toxoplasmosis. Immune mechanisms induced by rTgEfhc3 were analyzed by measuring serum IgG/IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2a) and splenic T cell cytokines (IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-10) by ELISA and the the frequencies of CD4
resultsGenetic deletion severely impaired tachyzoite proliferation, egress and invasion, indicating that it is essential in T. gondii biology. Furthermore, recombinant TgEfhc3 was evaluated as a subunit vaccine in a mouse model and was subsequently shown to partially protect against acute T. gondii infection. Immunization induced high levels of anti-T. gondii IgG and subclasses, enhanced Th1/Th2 cytokine production (IL-4, IFN-γ, IL-10) in splenic T lymphocytes and stimulated robust CD4⁺ T-cell proliferation. This elicited complex cellular and humoral immunity significantly prolonged survival time following acute T. gondii infection.
conclusionsThis study found that TgEfhc3 is crucial for T. gondii tachyzoite growth and development, providing new insights into infection mechanisms. Given the partial protective immunity conferred, TgEfhc3 warrants consideration as a component in future toxoplasmosis vaccine strategies.
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