An Inside Job: Hacking into Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signaling Cascades by the Intracellular Protozoan Toxoplasma gondii

Authors

Eric Y. Denkers, Cornell UniversityFollow
David J. Bzik, Dartmouth CollegeFollow
Barbara A. Fox, Dartmouth CollegeFollow
Barbara A. Butcher, Yale University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-2012

Publication Title

Infection and Immunity

Department

Geisel School of Medicine

Abstract

The intracellular protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is well known for its skill at invading and living within host cells. New discoveries are now also revealing the astounding ability of the parasite to inject effector proteins into the cytoplasm to seize control of the host cell. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of one such secretory protein called ROP16. This molecule is released from rhoptries into the host cell during invasion. The ROP16 molecule acts as a kinase, directly activating both signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and STAT6 signaling pathways. In macrophages, an important and preferential target cell of parasite infection, the injection of ROP16 has multiple consequences, including downregulation of proinflammatory cytokine signaling and macrophage deviation to an alternatively activated phenotype.

DOI

10.1128/IAI.05974-11

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Denkers, Eric Y.; Bzik, David J.; Fox, Barbara A.; and Butcher, Barbara A., "An Inside Job: Hacking into Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signaling Cascades by the Intracellular Protozoan Toxoplasma gondii" (2012). Dartmouth Scholarship. 923.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/923