ROP55 is a repressor of host pro-inflammatory responses

Toxoplasma gondii evades the host immune response through the secretion of effector proteins such as rhoptries. Cas9 mediated knockout of the T. gondii rhoptry protein ROP55 results in the up-regulation of numerous genes related to the human inflammatory response and cell death. Subsequent complementation of the ROP55 knockout reverts expression of pro-inflammatory genes to levels seen in cells infected by wild type parasites.