AUTHOR=Martorelli Di Genova Bruno , Knoll Laura J. 

TITLE=Comparisons of the Sexual Cycles for the Coccidian Parasites Eimeria and Toxoplasma

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.604897

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.604897

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> and <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. are widely prevalent Coccidian parasites that undergo sexual reproduction during their life cycle. <italic>T. gondii</italic> can infect any warm-blooded animal in its asexual cycle; however, its sexual cycle is restricted to felines. <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. are usually restricted to one host species, and their whole life cycle is completed within this same host. The literature reviewed in this article comprises the recent findings regarding the unique biology of the sexual development of <italic>T. gondii</italic> and <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. The molecular basis of sex in these pathogens has been significantly unraveled by new findings in parasite differentiation along with transcriptional analysis of <italic>T. gondii</italic> and <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. pre-sexual and sexual stages. Focusing on the metabolic networks, analysis of these transcriptome datasets shows enrichment for several different metabolic pathways. Transcripts for glycolysis enzymes are consistently more abundant in <italic>T. gondii</italic> cat infection stages than the asexual tachyzoite stage and <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. merozoite and gamete stages compared to sporozoites. Recent breakthroughs in host-pathogen interaction and host restriction have significantly expanded the understating of the unique biology of these pathogens. This review aims to critically explore advances in the sexual cycle of Coccidia parasites with the ultimate goal of comparing and analyzing the sexual cycle of <italic>Eimeria</italic> spp. and <italic>T. gondii</italic>.</p>