AUTHOR=Cheng Ao , Zhang Huanan , Chen Baike , Zheng Shengyao , Wang Hongyi , Shi Yijia , You Siyao , Li Ming , Jiang Liping 

TITLE=Modulation of autophagy as a therapeutic strategy for Toxoplasma gondii infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.902428

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2022.902428

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> infection is a severe health threat that endangers billions of people worldwide. <italic>T. gondii</italic> utilizes the host cell membrane to form a parasitophorous vacuole (PV), thereby fully isolating itself from the host cell cytoplasm and making intracellular clearance difficult. PV can be targeted and destroyed by autophagy. Autophagic targeting results in <italic>T. gondii</italic> killing <italic>via</italic> the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes. However, <italic>T. gondii</italic> has developed many strategies to suppress autophagic targeting. Accordingly, the interplay between host cell autophagy and <italic>T. gondii</italic> is an emerging area with important practical implications. By promoting the canonical autophagy pathway or attenuating the suppression of autophagic targeting, autophagy can be effectively utilized in the development of novel therapeutic strategies against <italic>T gondii</italic>. Here, we have illustrated the complex interplay between host cell mediated autophagy and <italic>T. gondii</italic>. Different strategies to promote autophagy in order to target the parasite have been elucidated. Besides, we have analyzed some potential new drug molecules from the DrugBank database using bioinformatics tools, which can modulate autophagy. Various challenges and opportunities focusing autophagy mediated <italic>T. gondii</italic> clearance have been discussed, which will provide new insights for the development of novel drugs against the parasite.</p>