Anti-Toxoplasma gondii effect of vorinostat in vitro and in vivo

Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogenic protozoon that infects up to one-third of the world's population. In immunocompetent individuals, the infection generally is asymptomatic. However, in immunocompromised patients, the infection can lead to severe and fatal complications. This is due to the conversion of bradyzoites to tachyzoites as a result of reduced immune pressure. Therefore, it is necessary to discover drugs that have anti-Toxoplasma effect while simultaneously being effective against cancer.Our findings suggest that vorinostat demonstrates potency against T. gondii both in vitro and in vivo, which offers promise for treatment of human toxoplasmosis in cancer patients.