TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND CD8 T CELL RESPONSES : PLAYING CAT AND MOUSE WITH A BRAIN PARASITE

Orateur : Nicolas BLANCHARD (CPTP, Toulouse)

The apicomplexan parasite T. gondii is able to establish chronic infection in the central nervous system of a large range of infected hosts. Within the brain, CD8 T cells are critical to contain the parasite, thus weakened T cell responses may lead to parasite reactivation resulting in encephalitis. Interestingly, even in the case of latent, efficiently controlled infection (the most frequent situation in humans), T. gondii has been associated with modifications of brain function. I will present the determinants of T cell responses that drive latent T. gondii infection, with a focus on the mechanisms and modulation of antigen presentation to CD8 T cells by various cell types including neurons. We will discuss how these processes regulate the clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis.

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