Role of T. gondii genetic diversity, secreted proteins and other parasite molecules in host-pathogen interactions. Homo sapiens

The goal of this project is to infect relevant human host cells (fibroblasts and adult human neural progenitors differentiated into neurons) with Toxoplasma gondii parasites of differing lineages to generate transcriptional mRNA and miRNA profiles. These datasets will allow the characterization of how genetically different parasites that cause distinct types of human toxoplasmosis alter the expression of protein-encoding and miRNA-encoding genes in both the human host and the parasite.