# Iron regulation of chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection and immunity

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING · 2022 · $219,075

## Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasma) causes an acute infection characterized by replicating tachyzoites that
eventually develops into a chronic infection characterized by persisting bradyzoite stage Toxoplasma cysts in
the brain and central nervous system. Chronic Toxoplasma infection affects ~30% of the United States
population and during immune deficiency cysts reactivate and cause a severe Toxoplasmic encephalitis. There
are currently no drugs or therapies that are effective at preventing cyst development or eliminating cysts in
chronically infected individuals. The biology underpinning Toxoplasma cyst development, reactivation, and host
immune control of acute and chronic infection is still poorly understood. From current evidence and preliminary
data, we hypothesize that iron availability regulates parasite differentiation, cyst reactivation, and the
effectiveness of the CD8+ T cell immune response in controlling acute infection and in preventing cyst
reactivation. In Aim 1 we will investigate the role of iron sensing by the Toxoplasma Iron Regulatory Protein in
differentiation and cyst reactivation. In Aim 2 we will investigate the role of iron availability in the development
of CD8+ T cell mediated immunity and in the control of chronic cysts by CD8+ T cells. These two specific aims
will test our novel hypothesis that iron regulates parasite stage differentiation and host immunity to acute and
chronic infection. These high impact experiments are expected to define key iron regulated mechanisms that
act on the parasite as well as the host to control differentiation, reactivation, and host immune control of
infection. These studies address significant current gaps in knowledge that are major barriers to progress in
the field.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10362711
- **Project number:** 5R21AI161298-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID J BZIK
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $219,075
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-03-02 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10362711

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10362711, Iron regulation of chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection and immunity (5R21AI161298-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10362711. Licensed CC0.

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