Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory
Project Number: 8042-32420-007-013-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Feb 15, 2015
End Date: Jan 31, 2020
Objective:
To determine the molecular basis of pathogenicity of Toxoplasma gondii by crossing different strains in cats and analyzing the resulting progeny. The Washington School of Medicine (cooperator) has the expertise in the genetics of T gondii.
Approach:
NEA will infect mice with different strains of T. gondii and then co-fed tissue cysts to cats to produce oocysts. The oocysts will be hatched and single cell clones prepared. Clones will be tested for biological phenotypes including growth and virulence. Genetic mapping will be used to identify genes involved in these traits. NEA will provide genetic crosses in cats. The cooperator will perform the biological and genetic testing.
