AUTHOR=Hildebrandt Franziska , Mohammed Mubasher , Dziedziech Alexis , Bhandage Amol K. , Divne Anna-Maria , Barrenäs Fredrik , Barragan Antonio , Henriksson Johan , Ankarklev Johan 

TITLE=scDual-Seq of Toxoplasma gondii-infected mouse BMDCs reveals heterogeneity and differential infection dynamics

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224591

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1224591

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Dendritic cells and macrophages are integral parts of the innate immune system and gatekeepers against infection. The protozoan pathogen, <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic>, is known to hijack host immune cells and modulate their immune response, making it a compelling model to study host-pathogen interactions. Here we utilize single cell Dual RNA-seq to parse out heterogeneous transcription of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) infected with two distinct genotypes of <italic>T. gondii</italic> parasites, over multiple time points post infection. We show that the BMDCs elicit differential responses towards <italic>T. gondii</italic> infection and that the two parasite lineages distinctly manipulate subpopulations of infected BMDCs. Co-expression networks define host and parasite genes, with implications for modulation of host immunity. Integrative analysis validates previously established immune pathways and additionally, suggests novel candidate genes involved in host-pathogen interactions. Altogether, this study provides a comprehensive resource for characterizing host-pathogen interplay at high-resolution.</p>