Unravelling the Intricacies of Toxoplasma gondii: Insights into Pathogenesis and Strategies for Prevention and Treatment

Toxoplasma gondii, a pervasive protozoan parasite, is the etiological agent responsible for the infectious disease known as toxoplasmosis. This obligate intracellular parasite exhibits a remarkable ability to infect a broad range of warm-blooded animals, including humans, making it a ubiquitous pathogen with a diverse host range.

Key to its survival and widespread infection is its intricate lifecycle, alternating between sexual and asexual phases, enabling seamless transmission and persistence across diverse host environments. Despite advances in understanding its biology, many aspects of Toxoplasma gondii's pathogenic mechanisms remain not completely understood, requiring a deeper investigation.

In the clinical management of Toxoplasmosis, the primary approach entails the administration of antiparasitic medications to mitigate symptoms. However, achieving complete eradication of the parasite poses a significant challenge, mainly attributed to its capacity to endure as latent cysts within the host’s tissues. While progress has been made in comprehending the structural characteristics and mechanism of Toxoplasmosis, it is crucial to emphasize the necessity for further research.

With this Research Topic, we aim to explore the scientific gaps associated with our understanding of Toxoplasma gondii and its importance to design better drug and treatment modalities.

We want to highlight the latest scientific findings on Toxoplasmosis in the following areas:

o Mode of transmission and strategies for host-to-host transfer.
o Mechanisms of reproduction of T. gondii in cats.
o Mechanisms of pathogenesis and the parasite's resistance against host defenses.
o Interaction with host cells and strategies employed by the parasite to evade immune responses.
o Preventive approaches to reduce incidence and transmission of infection.
o Development of innovative diagnostic procedures.
o Development of innovative therapeutic agents and treatment paradigms.

By focusing on these themes, this Research Topic seeks to gather significant advancements in the management and understanding of toxoplasmosis, promoting a synergistic approach to research in parasitology and infectious diseases.

In this article collection, we consider the submission of the following article types: Brief Research Report, Clinical Trial, Editorial, Mini Review, Original Research, Review, Systematic Review.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii -Transmission, Pathogenesis, Host-pathogen interaction, Prevention and Treatment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.