A quantitative assay method of Toxoplasma gondii HSP70 mRNA by quantitative competitive-reverse transcriptase-PCR

Parasitol Int. 2004 Mar;53(1):49-58. doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2003.11.001.

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii)-derived heat shock protein 70 (T.g.HSP70) has been identified as a virulent molecule expressing only in T. gondii tachyzoites during lethal acute infection. Therefore, it is of importance to determine the expression of T.g.HSP70 mRNA in a quantitative manner for analysis of virulence of T. gondii in tissues. We have constructed a competitor T.g.HSP70 and have successfully established a quantitative competitive-reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QC-RT-PCR) targeting T.g.HSP70 gene. By using the established QC-RT-PCR method, we have demonstrated that the copy number of T.g.HSP70 mRNA per T. gondii tachyzoite was highest in the lung among the organs examined in interferon-gamma knockout (GKO) mice.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / genetics
  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism*
  • Interferon-gamma / genetics
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Toxoplasma / genetics
  • Toxoplasma / growth & development
  • Toxoplasma / metabolism
  • Toxoplasma / pathogenicity*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / mortality
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology
  • Virulence

Substances

  • HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Interferon-gamma