Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in female mammals during pregnancy can result in poor pregnancy. Similarly, it can result in male reproductive disorders in male mammals. Although the testes and uterus have very different biological makeup, they are still both attacked by T. gondii resulting in reproductive dysfunctions. We hypothesized that there are significant common genes in the testes and uterus that interact with T. gondii. Finding out and studying these genes is vital to understand the infection mechanism of T. gondii and the induced disease pathogenesis. To achieve this goal, we built a mice model of acute infection with T. gondii and the testes and uterus of the mice were sequenced by RNA-Seq. A total of 291 and 679 significantly differently expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the testes and the uterus, respectively. In the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, part of the DEGs in the testes and uterus were related to 35 GO functions. When compared with the KEGG database, seven pathways affecting both the testes and uterus during the course of T. gondii infection were identified. In addition, Toxoplasmosis can significantly affect the expression of Nlrp5 and Insc leading to negative outcomes in the host. On the other hand, the host regulates Gbp7, Gbp2b, and Ifit3 to defend against T. gondii infection.
Highlights
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a “clever” obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, affecting most warm-blooded mammals [1]
The ultramarine structure of testes was observed by the transmission electron microscope (TEM) (Figure 2)
Results of this study confirm that T. gondii can result in serious reproductive damage in both genders such as decreased sperm count, decreased sperm survival rate, and poor pregnancy in pregnant mice
Summary
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a “clever” obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, affecting most warm-blooded mammals [1]. About one third of the world population has been infected by T. gondii [2]. The large number of infections has led researchers to study the “symbiotic” relationship between T. gondii and the different hosts [3]. As an exogenous parasite, T. gondii is always harmful to the body organs, where infection commonly occurs via oral, blood, and placental routes [4]. T. gondii infection in pregnant female animals may lead to fetal malformations, stillbirths, and abortions [5]. Previous researchers have used epidemiological, pathological, and serological approaches to detect the DNA of T. gondii in the semen of infertile patients and they observed significant cellular damage in the testicular tissue [7,8,9], proving that there is an exact association between T. gondii and male infertility
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
