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Pathogens
Volume 14
Issue 2
10.3390/pathogens14020171
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Article

Toxoplasma gondii Type I TR and ROP16 Synergistically Downregulate IL-12 to Inhibit Host Reactive Oxygen Species Production

by
Xiaoling Geng
1,2,†,
Ruifang Li
1,†,
Jingying Du
1,
Manyu Zhang
1,
Wei Jiang
1,
Qing Sun
1,
Rongsheng Mi
1,
Shuang Qin
1 and
Quan Wang
1,*
1
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Shanghai 200241, China
2
College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Pathogens 2025, 14(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020171
Submission received: 27 December 2024 / Revised: 29 January 2025 / Accepted: 4 February 2025 / Published: 8 February 2025
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Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular opportunistic protozoan parasite. T. gondii invasion disturbs the balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant capacity in the host, triggering the oxidative stress response. Thioredoxin reductase (TR) of T. gondii helps to escape ROS-induced damage in the host, whereas T. gondii rhoptry protein 16 (ROP16) downregulates host innate immunity to suppress excessive inflammation and inhibit ROS production. However, whether TR and ROP16 synergistically promote resistance to ROS-induced damage remains unclear. Here, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 technology to successfully obtain a double TR and ROP16 gene knockout T. gondii strain. The double deletion of TR and ROP16 in T. gondii weakened its growth ability in vitro and decreased its virulence in vivo. Moreover, the double deletion of TR and ROP16 resulted in a lower antioxidant capacity, higher degree of lipid oxidation, and elevated ROS levels in the parasite and host cells. Interestingly, the deletion of the TR and ROP16 genes in T. gondii synergistically increased IL-12 levels, which triggered host cells to produce more ROS to resist T. gondii infection. These results show that TR and ROP16 in T. gondii play a synergistic role, facilitating resistance to ROS damage incurred by host immune cells through different pathways.
Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; CRISPR/Cas9; thioredoxin reductase; rhoptry protein 16; immune escape; oxidative stress Toxoplasma gondii; CRISPR/Cas9; thioredoxin reductase; rhoptry protein 16; immune escape; oxidative stress

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MDPI and ACS Style

Geng, X.; Li, R.; Du, J.; Zhang, M.; Jiang, W.; Sun, Q.; Mi, R.; Qin, S.; Wang, Q. Toxoplasma gondii Type I TR and ROP16 Synergistically Downregulate IL-12 to Inhibit Host Reactive Oxygen Species Production. Pathogens 2025, 14, 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020171

AMA Style

Geng X, Li R, Du J, Zhang M, Jiang W, Sun Q, Mi R, Qin S, Wang Q. Toxoplasma gondii Type I TR and ROP16 Synergistically Downregulate IL-12 to Inhibit Host Reactive Oxygen Species Production. Pathogens. 2025; 14(2):171. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020171

Chicago/Turabian Style

Geng, Xiaoling, Ruifang Li, Jingying Du, Manyu Zhang, Wei Jiang, Qing Sun, Rongsheng Mi, Shuang Qin, and Quan Wang. 2025. "Toxoplasma gondii Type I TR and ROP16 Synergistically Downregulate IL-12 to Inhibit Host Reactive Oxygen Species Production" Pathogens 14, no. 2: 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020171

APA Style

Geng, X., Li, R., Du, J., Zhang, M., Jiang, W., Sun, Q., Mi, R., Qin, S., & Wang, Q. (2025). Toxoplasma gondii Type I TR and ROP16 Synergistically Downregulate IL-12 to Inhibit Host Reactive Oxygen Species Production. Pathogens, 14(2), 171. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14020171

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