Compositions and methods for regulation of chronic toxoplasma infection
AssigneeWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
InventorsBen Waldman, Sebastian Lourido
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides genetically altered protozoan parasites comprising a mutation in a bradyzoite formation deficient 1 (BFD1) gene, wherein the mutation inhibits differentiation of the parasite into a bradyzoite. The genetically altered protozoan parasites can be utilized in vaccine compositions and in methods of treating apicomplexan parasite infection.
Claims14
A genetically altered Toxoplasma gondii comprising a mutation in a bradyzoite formation deficient 1 (BFD1) gene (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the mutation is a deletion of all or a portion of the coding sequence of the BFD1 gene, and wherein the mutant BFD1 gene is defective in initiating differentiation of the Toxoplasma gondii into a bradyzoite.
A method of inducing an immune response to Toxoplasma gondii in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject a vaccine composition comprising a genetically altered Toxoplasma gondii, wherein the Toxoplasma gondii comprises a mutation in a bradyzoite formation deficient 1 (BFD1) gene (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the mutation is a deletion of all or a portion of the coding sequence of the BFD1 gene, and wherein the mutant BFD1 gene is defective in initiating differentiation of the Toxoplasma gondii into a bradyzoite.
A method of delivering an antigen to a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering the antigen to the subject a wherein the antigen is delivered in a genetically altered Toxoplasma gondii, wherein the Toxoplasma gondii comprises a mutation in a bradyzoite formation deficient 1 (BFD 1) gene (SEQ ID NO:1), wherein the mutation is a deletion of all or a portion of the coding sequence of the BFD 1 gene, and wherein the mutant BFD 1 gene is defective in initiating differentiation of the Toxoplasma gondii into a bradyzoite.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.