Toxoplasma gondii
represents a pathogen that survives within host cells by preventing the endosomal-lysosomal
compartments from fusing with the parasitophorous vacuoles. The dogma had been that the non-fusogenic nature
of these vacuoles is irreversible. Recent studies revealed that this dogma is not correct. Cell-mediated immunity
through CD40 re-routes the parasitophorous vacuoles to the lysosomal compartment by a process called autophagy.
Autophagosome formation around the parasitophorous vacuole results in killing of the
T. gondii. CD40-induced
autophagy likely contributes to resistance against
T. gondii particularly in neural tissue.
