Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogenic parasite affecting populations worldwide. Toxoplasma infection is harmful to fetuses and people with weak immune systems. In general, Toxoplasma has two main hosts: rodents and cats, but it can opportunistically also infect humans. Recent studies showed that Toxoplasma affects its hosts' behavior and decision making while it lives out different phases in each host. This NSERC-funded research program is focused on seeking a better understanding of Toxoplasma parasitism in humans. It will develop and use novel and highly sensitive methods to monitor different phases of the parasites' life history in the human host. These highly sensitive methods, named reporter systems, will subsequently be used to study how Toxoplasma controls its protein synthesis and maintains its interconversion between different phases to elude the human immune system. During the course of this research, up to four graduate and ten undergraduate students will receive cross-disciplinary training in molecular parasitology, biochemistry and cell biology.