INSIGHTS ON DRUG TARGETING OF TOXOPLASMA GONDII HOST INVASION PROTEINS: A REVIEW

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that infects homoeothermic animals. It is also the major cause of retinochoroiditis in humans.Drugs targeting T. gondii proteins involved in the establishment of host-pathogen interactions is well documented to be an efficient way to combatthe infections. Basically, parasitic invasion of T. gondii occurs by the sequential secretion of apical membrane antigen 1 and rhoptry neck proteins onthe parasite and host cell surfaces, respectively. These proteins operate synergistically and form the moving junction (MJ) complex, thereby, enablingattachment and penetration of the parasite into the host cell. Better understanding of molecular interactions of these proteins is essential to develophighly efficient therapeutic modalities. Hence, by this review it is intended to update the current status of rhoptry and other MJ complex proteins asideal candidates for targeting T. gondii.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii, Rhoptry proteins, Moving junction complex, Toxoplasmosis