Chronic infection

We have established a mouse model of latent Toxoplasma infection to test new experimental compounds for efficacy in diminishing the chronic infection characterized by cysts within the CNS of the mice. Novel artemisinin derivatives from Gary Posner's lab (Johns Hopkins U.) and endochin-like quinolones from Michael Riscoe's lab (Oregon Health and Science U.) are showing substantial efficacy in the treatment model (1-2). We are also escalating efforts to identify CPL inhibitors capable of entering the CNS and killing chronic stage parasites in the brain. It is anticipated that combinational treatment schemes will approach or achieve complete elimination of the latent infection, a feat that is considered to be amongst the most important and challenging goals in the field.

1. Schultz, T.L., Bordon, C., Henken, C.P., Woodard, L.E., Posner, G.H., Yolken, R.H., Jones-Brando, L., and Carruthers, V.B. (2014) A thiazole derivative of artemisinin reduces Toxoplasma gondii cyst burden in infected mice. J. Parasitol. 100:516-21.

2. Doggett, J.S., Nilsen, A., Forquer, I., Jones-Brando, L., Yolken, R.H., Charman, S.A., Katneni, K., Schultz, T., Burrows, J., Hinrichs, D.J., Meunier, B., Carruthers, V.B., and Riscoe, M. (2012) Endochin-like-quinolones are highly efficacious against acute and latent experimental toxoplasmosis. Proc. Nat’l Acad. Sci. 109:15936-15941.