UVA Finds Caspase‑8 Kills Toxoplasma‑Infected T Cells
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- One in three people worldwide carry Toxoplasma gondii, often without symptoms.
- Toxoplasma gondii can invade CD8+ T cells, the immune cells normally tasked with killing infected cells.
- Caspase-8 in CD8+ T cells triggers self‑destruction of infected cells, eliminating the parasite inside.
- Mice lacking caspase‑8 in T cells develop higher brain parasite loads and die, while mice with the enzyme stay healthy.
- Study published in Science Advances (2025) by Harris and colleagues details the caspase‑8 mechanism and was funded by NIH and UVA.
- UVA Health researchers, led by Tajie Harris, identified this self‑destruct defense, offering insight into why most carriers remain asymptomatic.
Why it matters: The discovery shows that caspase‑8–mediated death of infected CD8+ T cells is essential for preventing brain infection, offering a potential therapeutic target for immunocompromised patients who risk severe toxoplasmosis. It also clarifies why most carriers remain asymptomatic and may guide future vaccine or drug development.
