Toxoplasma Molecular and Cellular Biology

Toxoplasma gondii, once an obscure protozoan parasite, has recently become the focus of intense research, both as a serious pathogen in its own right and as a model member of the phylum Apicomplexa. Written by internationally acclaimed researchers, this is the first book to provide a comprehensive coverage of this important parasite from both the host and pathogen perspectives. The authors of this book describe in detail the biological characteristics that make T. gondii and related apicomplexans the most common and successful group of parasites on earth. Essential reading for all researchers working with Toxoplasma and related apicomplexans, Plasmodium, Cryptosporidium, and other protozoan parasites.

Part 1: Overview 1. The Life Cycle of Toxoplasma gondii 2. Ultrastructure Part 2: Pathogenesis, Immunology and Virulence 3. Epidemiology, Diagnostics and Chemotherapy 4. Ocular Toxoplasmosis: Clinical Features, Pathology, Pathogenesis, Animal Models and Immune Responses 5. Congenetial Toxoplasmosis 6. Innate Recognition and the Regulation of Protective Immunity to Toxoplasma gondii 7. Mechanisms of Immune Evasion 8. Apoptosis and its Impact on the Parasite-Host Interaction 9. Pathogenicity and Virulence in Toxoplasma gondii 10. Cellular Response to Infection Part 3: Genome and Genetics 11. Genetics and Genome Organization of Toxoplasma gondii 12. Evolution and Comparative Genomics of Toxoplasma gondii 13. Population Genetics, Sex and the Emergence of Clonal Lines of Toxoplasma gondii 14. Manipulating the Toxoplasma Genome Part 4: Growth, Development and Metabolism 15.CellCycle Control/ParasiteDivision 16. Toxoplasma GeneRegulation and Bradyzoite Development 17. Biology of Bradyzoites 18. Chromatin Remodeling 19. Lipid Synthesis and Uptake 20. Nucleotides and Amino Acids Part 5: Organelles: Sorting, Content and Function 21. Protein Targeting to the Apicoplast 22. The Metabolic Functions of the Mitochondrion and the Apicoplast 23. Microneme Protein Repertoire and Function 24. Proteomic Analysis of the Rhoptry Organelles of Toxoplasma gondii 25. Dense Granules of the Infectious Stages ofToxoplasma gondii: Their Central Role in the Host/Parasite Relationship 26. Calcium Homeostasis and Acidcalciosomes in Toxoplasma gondii Part 6: Cytoskeleton, Signaling, Motility and Invasion 27. Tubulin, Microtubules and Microtubule-Associated Structures in Toxoplasma gondii 28. Molecular Motors 29. ActinDynamics and Motility in Apicomplexans 30. Proteases of Toxoplasma gondii 31. The Toxoplasma gondii Parasitophorous Vacuole Membrane: Transactions at the Parasite Host Interface