AUTHOR=Zhang Zhi-Wei , Li Ting-Ting , Wang Jin-Lei , Liang Qin-Li , Zhang Hai-Sheng , Sun Li-Xiu , Zhu Xing-Quan 

TITLE=Functional Characterization of Two Thioredoxin Proteins of Toxoplasma gondii Using the CRISPR-Cas9 System

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=7

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.614759

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2020.614759

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Toxoplasmosis caused by infection with <italic>Toxoplasma gondii</italic> is an important parasitic zoonosis with a worldwide distribution. In this study, we examined the functions of two thioredoxins (namely CTrp26 and CTrx1) of <italic>T. gondii</italic> tachyzoites by generation of HA tag strains or gene deficient parasites in Type I RH strain (ToxoDB#10). Immunofluorescence analysis (IFA) was used to investigate the subcellular localization of the thioredoxins (Trxs). Results of IFA showed that both CTrp26 and CTrx1 were located in the cytoplasm of <italic>T. gondii</italic>. Functional characterizations of CTrp26 and CTrx1-deficient parasites were performed by plaque assay, intracellular replication, egress, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> resistance, detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) assays <italic>in vitro</italic>, as well as mouse infection <italic>in vivo</italic>. Our results showed that deletion of CTrp26 or CTrx1 did not influence the ability of <italic>T. gondii</italic> RH strain to replicate, egress, form plaque, resist H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> exposure, maintain the ROS level, and T-AOC, and also did not serve as virulence factors in Kunming mice. Taken together, these results provide new properties of the two Trxs. Although they are not essential for RH strain, they may have roles in other strains of this parasite due to their different expression patterns, which warrants future research.</p>