Toxoplasma gondii : 1908-2008, homage to Nicolle, Manceaux and Splendore
Issue Date:
18-Jun-2009
Publisher:
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
Description:
The discovery of Toxoplasma gondii independently by Nicolle and
Manceaux (1908) and Splendore (1908) was to open a
“Pandora’s Box” that has led research on this
parasite into a number of scientific disciplines. In the 100 years
since its discovery, the mystery surrounding T. gondii and its
inter-relationship with humans has continued to provide a stimulating
source of material in many areas of research, resulting in the
publication of almost 20,000 papers and a number of books. This flood
of diverse information shows no sign of abating, with an average of 10
papers per week appearing in PubMed. Herein, it is impossible to do
more than provide a very superficial comment on what has become a
massive body of scientific information. T. gondii has many unique
features and seems to be the “exception to almost every
rule” thus acting as a focus for research in disciplines from
epidemiology to immunology to human behaviour to cell biology to human
disease. In this review a number of the historical advances will be
mentioned and combined with a description of the basic biology of the
parasite.
Content Type:
Article
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