Vaccine Design Based on Live Attenuated Cells of Toxoplasma gondii: A Review

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a well-known, commonly found pathogen by high proliferative activity in nucleated cells. This parasite has infected nearly one-third of the world’s population. Infection can result in chorioretinitis in immunocompetent hosts, encephalitis in HIV/AIDS positive patients and spontaneous abortion or neonatal death in fetuses infected with congenital toxoplasmosis. Development of vaccines for toxoplasmosis is of major importance for reducing routes of disease transmission among various host species in the world. Live attenuated vaccines resemble natural infectious agents very closely. Therefore, these vaccines are good enhancers of the immune system, often imparting lifelong immunity with only one or two doses. In this study, we review the current status of live attenuated vaccine development for Toxoplasma infection.