Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jun 10.
Published in final edited form as: Immunotherapy. 2011 Jun;3(6):789–801. doi: 10.2217/imt.11.68

Figure 1. CD8 T-cell effector mechanisms during acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

Figure 1

During the acute phase, CD8 T cells primarily via the production of IFN-γ and possibly TNF-α and cytotoxicity-associated molecules such as perforin and granzyme B inhibit parasite replication and cause conversion of the parasite from tachyzoite stage to bradyzoite stage. IFN-γ elicits the production of NO, ROS and IDO and activates p47GTPases that augment parasite clearance. During the chronic phase, CD8-produced IFN-γ and possibly TNF-α is vital for maintaining the parasites in the encysted stage.

IDO: Indoleamine 2,3-deoxygenase; iNOS: Inducible nitric oxide synthetase; ROS: Reactive oxygen species.