# IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INGESTED TOXOPLASMA

> **NIH NIH R01** · MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL · 1991 · $212,284

## Abstract

Long term objectives are to reduce morbidity and mortality due
to Toxoplasma infection through better understanding of immune
responses to this organism and improved use of antimicrobial
agents.  Specific aims are to study immune responses in a mouse
model of Toxoplasma acquired by ingestion and congenitally and
in human congenital infections, and to develop optimal methods to
interrupt congenital transmission of Toxoplasma and treat
congenital toxoplasmosis.  To further characterize immune
responses which protect mice that ingest Toxoplasma, the
antigens recognized by and protective effect of Toxoplasma
specific intestinal antibodies against peroral and congenital
infection will be characterized.  Attenuated tachyzoites,
bradyzoites and antigens of T. gondii alone, or antigens
conjugated to cholera-toxin subunit B or synthesized by a cloned
portion of the T. gondii genome recombined into a mouse
Salmonella plasmid will be used to attempt to produce specific
intestinal IgA.  Monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies will be
tested for their ability to block entry into or replication within
enterocytes and to interrupt peroral and/or ongenital acquisition.
Antigens will be studied to determine which epitopes bind to
enterocytes.  Studies will also be continued to characterize the
gene(s) and gene product(s) that result(s) in differences in early
survival of and numbers of latent brain cysts in recombinant
inbred AXB/BXA mice on the A/J (resistant) and C57B1/6J
(susceptible) backgrounds.  Study of immune responses in human
congenital infections will be continued by evaluation of
lymphocyte blastogenic responses to Toxoplasma antigens,
measurement of T cell subsets, and lymphocyte functions.  To
development optimal strategies to manage human congenital
Toxoplasma infection a serologic screening program to diagnose
Toxoplasma infection acquired during pregnancy will be evaluated
and congenitally infected infants identified in this program (and
through collaborative arrangements) will be studied prospectively
to determine optimal treatment regimens and establish
pharmacokinetics of the antimicrobial agents used.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3126930
- **Project number:** 5R01AI016945-10
- **Recipient organization:** MICHAEL REESE HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Rima L McLeod
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $212,284
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1980-07-01 → 1993-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3126930

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3126930, IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INGESTED TOXOPLASMA (5R01AI016945-10). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3126930. Licensed CC0.

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