Isolation of total RNA from the mouse forebrain during acute and chronic infection with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Represents host and pathogen response. Transcriptome or Gene expression

Study was conducted to explore the transcriptional profiles of both host and pathogen during a time course of infection. RNA-seq was performed using the mouse forebrain at the peak of acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection. T. gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that establishes a chronic life long infection in muscle and brain tissue of its host. T. gondii has the potential to infect any warm blooded animal and can lead to the disease Toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis can lead to devastating effects in immune-compromised hosts and unborn animals if acquired congenitally. There is no effective treatment for chronic infection or vaccines for prevention. Identifying T. gondii genes essential for establishment of infection and understanding the host response during infection is critical for future therapeutics.